Ruto To Roll Out 5G Smartphones Costing Less Than Ksh5K
Currently, most smartphones which enable 5G internet connectivity cost almost an arm and leg
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President William Ruto on Tuesday, June 13 revealed that he was in talks with a local telecommunications company to roll out fifth-generation (5G) smartphones that will be available to Kenyans for less than Ksh5,000.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of YouTube Black Voices at the State House, Nairobi, Ruto acknowledged that there was a need to put additional focus on availing more digital devices to meet the demand for Kenyans on affordable smartphones to keep up with updates on the internet as well as for online content creation.
He revealed to YouTube content creators in attendance that his government was working with other stakeholders in the digital space to have the affordable 5G smartphones available for sale in a couple of months.
President William Ruto talking on the phone during a past event. /FILE
"We need to do more around digital devices. I want to tell you that we are already in partnership; the government of Kenya, a local telco and the whole of that digital space and in another couple of months...the telco promised me that we will have a digital device, 5G-enabled that is going to be less than Ksh5,000.
"So that you guys can be able to have devices that are priced fairly for you to be able to carry out whatever you have to do," he announced.
Currently, most smartphones which enable 5G internet connectivity cost almost an arm and leg, with the cheapest one in the country, according to spot checks by Viral Tea on local tech blogs, costing around Ksh22,000.
However, Ruto's government does have plans in place to manufacture Kenya's first locally made smartphone for less than Ksh5,000, which is being made at the Konza Technopolis plant in Malili, Machakos County and will come fully loaded with the Android Operating System (OS).
Additionally, President Ruto announced that plans are ongoing to grow the internet space in the country through a digital superhighway and specifically, the setting up of 25,000 internet hotspots nationwide.
"You did ask about our access to the internet and the cost of the internet. It is the reason why deliberately, we are establishing 25,000 hotspots precisely in every market in Kenya.
"You should be able to go to the market, access the internet free of charge, do your thing, create content, monetize it and drive the economy of our country from every corner of our republic," he added.
Ruto also pointed out that the government was intentional in including the digital superhighway and creative economy in its five points. The others include agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) economy, housing and settlement, healthcare and environment and climate change.
The Head of State further announced that approximately ten per cent of government funds spent on adverts will go to content creators, amounting to Ksh30 billion.
"I have told the Ministry of ICT, the PS is here, that of the Ksh300 billion we spend every year on advertising, 10 per cent at least should go to local content creators. I'm talking of Ksh30 billion, so organise yourselves so that even the government can advertise in the space that you occupy," he promised.
He also announced plans to have the digital content tax of 15 per cent reduced owing to persistent calls for the government to go slow on taxing content creators in the proposed Finance Bill 2023.
"I know many people have made a case that we should go slow on the taxation around this area and I don't disagree, but you guys are making money. But anyway we will talk.
"I have told the committee in Parliament to have a chat with you and I'm happy that you guys said you are happy to have a chat. We are willing to relax some of the issues but you know we are making huge investments in this space and if this is the future of work, it is the future of where we are also going to get revenues to run the government," he added.
Alluding to Kenya as the "cradle of humankind", the President further committed himself to strike more visa-free deals with other countries so that content creators from across the continent and the world would visit Kenya without being made to go through several barriers amounted to by visa requirements.
"Many of you have had to get a visa to come to Kenya, but I have some good news for you. This may be the last time you're getting a visa to come to Kenya.
"Kenya is the cradle of humankind. This is where, and I'm talking as a scientist, this is where the earliest remains of man have been traced. So, all of you, my good people from Nigeria, Canada, the US and the rest of the places...when you come to Kenya, you are coming home," he assured.
