Ruto tells mobile firms to reduce cost of data bundles
Deputy President William Ruto has asked mobile phone service providers to reduce the cost of data bundles.
He said the government is concerned over the high cost of accessing internet on mobile phones.
“A key concern of government is the cost of data. While the cost of mobile handset(s) has gone down over the years, the cost of data has increased.
“Operators should work with government to bring down the cost of data to enable more Kenyans interact,” he said on Friday.
ACCESSIBLE DATA
Mr Ruto was speaking at the National Forum on Sustainable Data for Development held at the Laico Regency in Nairobi.
Mr Ruto said it is unfortunate that basic information such as statistics on births, deaths, size of labour force and school enrolment are not readily available.
He said the government has recognised the need to address the gaps in data production as it is essential in making decisions on development matters.
“Accurate, timely, disaggregated and accessible data are essential for governments to deliver services efficiently, equitably and transparently,” he said.
The Deputy President also said the government is working on enhancing internet security following the rise in cases of cyber crimes in Kenya.