Kenya: Govt agrees loan deal for ICT upgrades

28 June 2012

The Kenyan government has struck an accord with its counterparts in China to fund the National Optic Fiber Backbone Infrastructure as well as other e-government expansion projects, Capital FM reports.

News of the loan agreement has been confirmed by Joseph Kinyua, the finance permanent secretary, who explained that he expected the deal to be rubberstamped later in 2012.

As a result of the upgrades in ICT infrastructure, critical areas of the economy, including banking and healthcare, will become more digital.

This, in turn, will help to boost economic growth in the country.

"Once this is completed,” explained Mr Kinyua, “the project will also provide a safer, more reliable, stable and efficient basic communication network for the government and the Kenya citizens.”

Upgrades to internet infrastructure will help to enliven the local economy, according to Mr Kinyua, who added: "We are now at the district level, but we will ensure we get to the location level, for everyone to enjoy internet services.”