Traders drawn from Bungoma markets have narrated how the installed government public Wi-Fi has eased their work to trade with customers overseas and order goods.
Information, Communications and Digital Economy CS Eliud Owalo has been moving around the country to launch public Wi-Fi hotspots.
Owalo says that the project has come against the backdrop of the government prioritising the internet to the public in line with its pledge for universal access to all where 25,000 hotspots will be established.
The CS argues that the free public Wi-Fi service in the markets will enable business people and the public to trade with each other through online markets.
CS Owalo has urged the youths to exploit and utilise the hustler fund and set up businesses to deal with the unemployment crisis.
Speaking to the Star on Monday, Chairman of Chwele Market Ben Wangila lauded the government for coming up with the public Wi-Fi adding that the program will help business people connect with customers from abroad.
He noted that the public Wi-Fi that has been installed at the Chwele market has seen youths tap into it to access it.
“In the evening if you pass by here you will be able to see youths busy on their browsers trying to tap into this Wi-Fi, it has been of great help to our people,” he said.
As tomato and onion shortages hit the Western region, Wangila said that the traders are using the Wi-Fi to order and connect with supplies in Mwea, Kirinyaga and Tanzania.
“Currently we are having a shortage of onions and tomatoes therefore we use the Wi-Fi to order goods and connect with new customers,” said a trader.
In addition, Wangila stated that the traders are also using Wi-Fi to pay revenue through a mobile app that the county developed.
“Now business people are not required to walk manually to where we are to submit revenue funds; they just log into their phones and submit through a mobile app that the county developed,” Wangila added.
He said that the Chwele market has over 7,000 business people.
Speaking at Kamukunywa market in Kimilili Monday during the public Wi-Fi inspection, Thomas Odhiambo, director programmes and standards at Information Communication Technology Authority (ICT) said that the authority has already installed three hotspots at Bungoma town, Chwele and Kamukunywa markets.
This he said is part of the 25,000 hotspots announced by CS Owalo.
Odhiambo also cited that the government is planning to lay 100,000 kilometers of optic fiber that will connect hospitals and other government offices and facilities.