Internet Society Kenya Chapter will deploy a community network project called Kijiji Yeetu Community Network in the Ugunja community in Siaya county.
Project status: Closed
Partner: Internet Society Kenya Chapter
Impact goal: 5 Schools (Sirandumb School, Ambira School, Ngunya School, Ugunga School, Nyamasare School), 1 Community Health Centre, 1 Community Resource Centre, 2 Public Internet hotspots in Unga and Ambira shopping centres, Train 50 net wardens (30 female and 20 Male youths), Train 50 elderly people on meaningful internet consumption and basic digital literacy.
The Kijiji Yeetu Community Network project, led by the Internet Society Kenya Chapter, aims to provide low-cost and secure connectivity to underserved communities in Ugunja, Kenya. The project's goal is to bridge the digital divide and enable residents to access vital government services, educational resources, and business opportunities. It involves the installation of community network nodes in public schools, institutions, and health centers. The project also includes training local community members as net wardens to maintain and manage the network.
The project in Ugunja, Siaya County, has significantly improved internet connectivity and digital literacy in underserved communities. Through network assessments and capacity-building initiatives, the project has addressed internet service inconsistencies and low ICT skill levels among teachers and community members. The deployment of community network nodes and strategic partnerships with organizations like Liquid Telecom and Google Taara have improved internet access and affordability, advancing digital inclusion and education transformation.
Continuous monitoring and evaluation have provided valuable insights into project performance, despite high costs and resource constraints. The project's success is evident in schools participating in the Digital Rampage program, where students use gadgets for learning and administrative efficiency.
1. KijiTech Network Assessment and Footprint:
2. KijiTech Capacity-building:
3. Scaling Network Deployment and Implementation:
4. Network Monitoring and Process Maintenance:
The project also faced challenges throughout its implementation, which affected various aspects of the initiative.
One significant hurdle was the inadequacy of ICT facilities and trained personnel in schools, impeding efforts to integrate digital technologies into education effectively. This challenge highlighted the need for comprehensive capacity-building programs to equip teachers and students with the necessary skills to leverage technology for learning effectively.
Financial constraints posed another significant challenge, with high infrastructure costs and inflation rates impacting the project's budget and resource allocation. These financial limitations restricted the project's ability to scale and deploy internet infrastructure efficiently, requiring careful planning and prioritization of initiatives to maximize impact within the available resources.
Technical obstacles, such as line-of-sight issues and tree obstructions, also hampered network deployment efforts, leading to delays and inefficiencies in connectivity provision. Overcoming these technical challenges required innovative solutions and local expertise to navigate and resolve obstacles effectively.
Additionally, slow internet speeds and inconsistent service reliability posed ongoing challenges, limiting the project's ability to provide reliable and high-speed internet access to underserved communities. Addressing these issues necessitated ongoing monitoring and optimization of network infrastructure to enhance performance and user experience.
Despite these challenges, the project remained committed to overcoming obstacles and advancing its goals of promoting digital inclusion and community empowerment.
ISOC Kenya Chapter is an affiliate organization of the Global Internet Society. They work hand in hand to support the vision of the Internet Society by supporting and promoting the development of the internet as a global technical infrastructure, a resource to enrich people's lives and a force for good in society. Their work aligns with their goals for the Internet to be open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy. You can read more about them on their website!