Kibera residents to get free Wi-Fi from Uhuru
Kibera slum residents will soon enjoy free Wi-Fi, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.
The President said the free internet will allow talented youth to use the internet for beneficial purposes.
“The majority of Kenyans do not live in Muthaiga, they live in slums. This project will be replicated in all the slums so that we change the face of Nairobi,” said the President.
The head of state made the announcement on Thursday night when he launched a lighting project in the slum Kibera with a promise that the Government would continue with programmes to uplift the living standards of the slum residents.
The event was held at the Langata Sub-County Grounds where the President officially launched the Youth Empowerment Programme and the Community and Street Lighting Project.
STADIUM
The President also announced that a stadium will be built on the grounds where the meeting was being held so that Kibera youth can have their own sporting ground.
“From independence, this is the first time Government has reached Kibera and we promise that it is here to stay,” the President said.
The Government has embarked on several projects to upgrade Kibera, which has had the reputation of being at the centre of Nairobi yet lacks basic services available even in villages in remote parts of the country.
Already, a tarmac road has been built to ease transportation within the sprawling slum.
The Government has also opened clinics that offer free medicine to residents.
The National Youth Service under the Ministry of Devolution has been deployed in Kibera to also build toilets and clean up sewerage systems.
At least 3,000 Kibera youth have been employed to work alongside the NYS team as part of the Youth Empowerment Programme through which they earn salaries.
The President said the youth project will be extended for another six months to complete the work of cleaning and upgrading the slum.
YOUTH PROJECTS
The President also announced that after the end of the NYS programme, the Kibera youth will be empowered to sustain the projects started in the area.
He said tools like brick making machines will be handed over to the youth so that they can use them for income generating activities.
President Kenyatta also announced that posho mills currently being run by NYS in Kibera will be handed over to the youth groups and an arrangement will be made with the National Cereals and Produce Board so that they get maize at subsidised prices.
“The posho mills will be left with you and the cereals board (NCPB) will give you maize at subsidised prices and we want you to sell maize meal at a maximum of Sh60 per 2kg to the residents,” said the President.
Deputy President William Ruto said the Jubilee Government matches its words with its actions and the Kibera upgrade was a fulfilment of its pledge.
“Kibera is Nairobi and Nairobi is the face of Kenya. That is why the President directed that we change the face of Nairobi,” he said.
The DP said similar projects will be started in other slums so that the standard of life becomes better for all city residents.