Kenya to Roll Out 1 Million Locally Made Smartphones in July

In the next two months, Kenya will introduce its first locally manufactured smartphones as part of efforts by the government to raise the percentage of internet-enabled mobile phones in Kenya.

ICT Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eliud Owalo said that the expensive cost of the devices has been a hindrance to digital inclusion.

The devices, assembled at the Konza Technopolis in Malili, Machakos County, will sell for Sh5,488 ($40), which is reasonable compared to other well-known brands like Samsung, among others.

“We are alive to the question of the affordability of ICT devices as a potential hindrance to the ability of citizens to exploit the full potential that this sector presents,” Owalo said.

“We have been actively engaging diverse stakeholders in the ICT and manufacturing sectors on the prospects of producing low-cost smartphones and lowering data costs,” added the CS.

The CS is opposed to disclosing the name of the smartphone manufacturer, though.

In 2013, 14 companies, including the Chinese conglomerate Huawei and Safaricom, expressed interest in establishing operations in the Konza City project.