Cs Mucheru assures 96 per cent of Kenya internet covered ahead of polls

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has asserted the country has 96.4 per cent 3G and 4G network coverage to allow for the transmission of electoral data during the August 9 General Election.

Mucheru was speaking yesterday at St John Bosco Gatuya-ini Catholic Church in Othaya, Nyeri County during the funeral mass of the late retired President Mwai Kibaki’s sister, Esther Waitherero who died on July 14, 2022 at the age of 115.

The CS also stated that 1,111 voting stations lacked network access, but said 1,500 satellite modems had been deployed in all 290 constituencies to ensure smooth data transfer.

The ministry has collaborated with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) through the Communications Authority (CA) to ensure consistent network access across the country.

“IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan and chairman Wafula Chebukati met at Bomas of Kenya to affirm full network coverage.” The IEBC, not the government, conducts credible elections,” he stated.

He stated that the government is looking into the detention of three employees working for a corporation contracted to deploy technology during the elections, who were detained shortly after arriving in the country.

“You cannot carry election materials as personal effects. As a government, we must be vigilant and verify whatever is coming into the country. If you are making procurement, there is a procedure which should be followed in delivering goods into the country,” Mucheru said.

“You cannot have such items in your luggage. These things must be clarified, but I don’t think that the government is trying to do any mischief. The authorities are working on that matter,” he added.

Christopher Kemei, the authority’s Director of Universal Service Fund (USF), previously told delegates at the ongoing National Elections Conference that the country has achieved most of the required coverage and that the remaining amount will be met in the near future.

He, however, warned that Kenyans should not expect 100 per cent network coverage because the network cannot cover each and every square kilometre.

“We have been working closely with the electoral commission and as of April, we had realised a 96.4 per cent network coverage,” said Kemei.