ICT CS William Kabogo taken to task for failing marginalised areas on connectivity

Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Director General David Mugonyi(left) and ICT CS William Kabogo (right) before the Senate Standing Committee on ICT at Bunge Towers, Nairobi on July 31, 2025.(Photo: Senate)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Friday, August 1, 2025

In a tense session held on Thursday, senators questioned the Ministry’s lack of public engagement, unclear project progress, and the failure to deliver reliable communication infrastructure in areas that need it most.

The Senate ICT Committee has criticised the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology for its poor handling of connectivity projects, especially in regions facing insecurity and marginalisation.

In a tense session held on Thursday, senators questioned the Ministry’s lack of public engagement, unclear project progress, and the failure to deliver reliable communication infrastructure in areas that need it most.

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Chaired by Senator Allan Chesang, the session brought Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo and his team to task over the delayed use of the Universal Service Fund and the Ministry’s weak communication strategy.

Senator Chesang accused the Ministry and the Communications Authority (CA) of failing to inform the public about projects financed by the fund, while allowing private companies to take undeserved credit.

“Why are you not doing any public communication about USF? No visibility, no branding of sites. Private tower companies seem to be taking credit for what the USF funds,” he said.

He also questioned the sustainability of the school internet project, noting that several schools had already abandoned government WiFi.

“Some schools had internet only on the day of launch. Today, they’ve moved to Safaricom. What happened to the five years of free internet the government promised?” Chesang asked.

Senator James Lomenen gave a passionate statement on the impact of poor network access in Turkana and surrounding counties, saying the failure to provide a signal was leading to the loss of lives.

“People are dying in Turkana because there is no network. Security officers cannot respond to attacks in time. The invaders from Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda exploit our weak signal. How can the government protect its people without communication?” he said.

The Senator reminded the Committee that CS Kabogo had earlier promised to improve network coverage in six months, but said there had been no change on the ground.

“You stood in the chamber and assured us that our network would match Uganda’s in six months. Yet today, when you enter Turkana, the first signal you get is MTN Uganda. Safaricom disappears,” Lomenen added.

He demanded solid proof of progress in affected areas, including Todonyang, Lokiriama, and Napak, saying vague promises without action were dangerous.

In response, CS Kabogo defended the Ministry’s approach, saying work was being carried out in stages and that the Ministry of Interior had released emergency resources to speed up work in urgent areas.

“I promised six months, and I will keep my word. We are using Interior Ministry resources to reach high-risk zones because the budget is insufficient. The President has given direct orders that Kenya must be secure and Kenya must communicate,” he said.

He admitted that the Ministry had not properly shared information about USF-funded initiatives and blamed policy confusion for the delay, but said the Cabinet had now approved new guidelines to improve communication and visibility.

Even so, the Committee expressed frustration and issued clear directions. The Ministry must organise a consultative retreat with key ICT players and the Senate Committee to review progress and address policy gaps. It must also deliver updated data on areas still lacking access within 60 days and submit regular progress reports to senators.