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Kenya produced 194,000 smartphones by December- CS Owalo

Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary, Eliud Owalo. (X/Eliud Owalo)

By Saleem Abdi | Monday, February 5, 2024

The localy made smartphones will retail at around Sh8,000.

Kenya’s local assembly for smartphones produced 194,000 phones within the first two months of operation. This translates to an average daily output of 4,500 units.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo on Monday said the smartphone assembly plant was established in late October to address the proliferation of counterfeit gadgets in the country.

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“Late last year, a local assembly plant for smartphones and other devices was established in Nairobi, with an output of 4,500 units per day at a unit price of US$50. From launch in October 2023 to December 31, 2023, the plant had produced 194,000 units and provided employment to 310 Kenyans,” Owalo said.

He said the government has already created requisite market conditions for the local assembly of smartphones which will retail at around Sh8,000.

He spoke during the second Africa Telecommunications Union (ATU) Preparatory meeting for the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-2024) and the first preparatory meeting for the World Telecommunication Development Conferences (WTDC-25).

"The local assembly produces phones under the brand name of ‘Neon Smarta’ and ‘Neon Ultra’. It plans to expand the range this year to include a tablet, a feature smartphone and a larger 6.75,” smartphone," Owalo said.

“A 5G smartphone is also in design. The factory can produce 3 million devices annually,” he added.

According to Owalo, the local assembly of smartphones will be key to addressing the high cost of the devices, which were being imported before.

The smartphone assembly plant was launched in Athi River, Machakos County, on October 30, 2023.

The mobile devices, being assembled by a three-member consortium consisting of Chinese dealer Shenzhen TeleOne Technology, Safaricom and Jamii Telecommunications at the Konza Technopolis smart city, are part of the government-led efforts to foster digital access and inclusion in the country.

The launch of the factory was to accelerate 4G internet penetration in the country.