Tech –Government of Kenya has today promised to avail affordable smartphones that will cost less than sh 5,000 per piece.
President William Samoei Ruto made the pledge today Thursday November 10 in a trade fare function saying, for the country to thrive in digital and communication space, there is need for his government to make available affordable androids.
The head of State revealed that the smartphones will have to be manufactured internally and sold across the continent.
Rutos’ plan is to see the country connected technologically; this being among his key agenda during his tenure in office.
In that regard, Dr. Ruto said his government, through the ministry of technology, was in talks with major telcommunication firms on how to manufacture the gadgets.
“The real last mile in technology is the gadget and already we are working with Telcos so that we can have a smartphone that is going to be less than sh.5,000 and that can do everything you want,” stated President Ruto.
He narrowed down to a price that should be less than $40 or sh 4,872 – a promise he reiterated will come to fruition in a couple of months from now.
“We want to see if we can get it to sh.3,654 ($30) or Ksh.4,872 ($40). I want to promise the country that in the next 8 to 12 months we will have the cheapest smartphone in Africa, manufactured in Kenya,” Noted Ruto.
He was speaking this at the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry KNCCI Annual General Meeting held in Nairobi on Thursday.
