Energy is VERY expensive in Kenya, and unfortunately so (calculations given are realistic). There are reasons to this, and the situation could be better.
Would love it if our Government go solar over nuclear (alot of the country has suitable weather). I don't quite trust the current structures in place - especially regarding adhering to standards rules regulations etc. Not sure though if any other source of energy will meet the obvious needs.
Most energy needs are concentrated around Nairobi (capital) and other major towns. Much of rural Kenya has no electricity. For domestic use, I would think solar is ideal especially in areas outside of the grid, just that most cannot afford the components. I'm not sure if many here quite grasp the meaning of living below the poverty line. Yet others in rural areas may not see the use of having energy for say a washing machine or microwave in their homes unless (1) they see the need for it, and more importantly (2) they can afford it.
Proximity to Somalia: peace in Somalia would be hugely beneficial to the region, what with the piracy, and the threat of terrorism one would be understandably be nervous.
Now replying to some of the spicier remarks:
"... if they can steal tarmac off the road to make a floor for the house, I'm sure they'll grab a solar panel and rig a car headlamp to it... " Not quite practical - stealing tarmac - just think about it (and some of the roads are so bad there's no tarmac to steal anyway). However, solar panels do get stolen...
"They're using nuclear power as a front for developing weapons of mass destruction" - As a country that has suffered a terrorist attack on more than one occassion, why? In bad taste this.
(Kenyan)
that's not true...
The SAT-3 Cable does not go 'all the way around Africa'
It's on the west coast of Africa, thus Kenya does not connect to it
There ought to at least 1 Fiber Optic cable within 1-2 years connected though.
There's a race to see who'll deploy this cable:
TEAMS
EASSY is being deployed by Alcatel-Lucent - http://allafrica.com/stories/200706050685.html
FLAG - being pushed by KDN which is a party to the other two cables:)
In Kenya, the incumbent telco - Telkom Kenya (http://www.telkom.co.ke) and KDN (http://www.kdn.co.ke) are racing to put up Fiber all over the place, and connect to Uganda.
Soon enough communication infrastructure won't be a bottleneck to development
development needs to spurred by the people (me and the rest of the developing world) that require to be developed.
Education though at primary school level has been free since 2003. Definately need more primary schools and high schools though. Even university teaches archaic courses.. I work in telecoms and being playing with IT for bout 10 years and nothing i learnt (sic) in campus is practiced as such.
Josiah
Kenya
I totally agree
I'm Kenyan, in Kenya.
Kenya is definately not Sudan or Congo, we are fortunate to have been spared war, so in terms of IT , we are better off than most of our neighbours. Most technical/ IT people in the region happen to be Kenyans. That said, we still lag way behind the rest of the world. This i think due to poor policies. I hate using the IF word but if we had good govt policies on IT we would have a great telecoms infrastructure. Guys here are bright, just that opportunities to further one's knowledge get fewer as one progresses.
In rural Kenya most people are more concerned with getting food than learning the difference between Fedora and Knoppix
But there are definately positive signs that this will change within the next few years.
I wonder how long it will take for most major cities to become hotspots.
I'm envisaging a scenario where one can have a 802.16 phone and use it for calls
Mobile Operators would have an advantage in that they possibly can utilize their infrastructure for the same services.
I live in Kenya.
Outside of the capital city Nairobi and the major towns, the vast majority of people have no inkling what google is (even if there is google.co.ke), however throw someone in Garissa a cocacola, (s)he'll know what to do about it...
i also do like enterprise though i wonder far they are going to progress along. the in thing seems to be getting a classic and 'starting from scratch' - star wars, batman, smallville (superman)
Slashdot Mirror
Energy is VERY expensive in Kenya, and unfortunately so (calculations given are realistic). There are reasons to this, and the situation could be better. Would love it if our Government go solar over nuclear (alot of the country has suitable weather). I don't quite trust the current structures in place - especially regarding adhering to standards rules regulations etc. Not sure though if any other source of energy will meet the obvious needs. Most energy needs are concentrated around Nairobi (capital) and other major towns. Much of rural Kenya has no electricity. For domestic use, I would think solar is ideal especially in areas outside of the grid, just that most cannot afford the components. I'm not sure if many here quite grasp the meaning of living below the poverty line. Yet others in rural areas may not see the use of having energy for say a washing machine or microwave in their homes unless (1) they see the need for it, and more importantly (2) they can afford it. Proximity to Somalia: peace in Somalia would be hugely beneficial to the region, what with the piracy, and the threat of terrorism one would be understandably be nervous. Now replying to some of the spicier remarks: "... if they can steal tarmac off the road to make a floor for the house, I'm sure they'll grab a solar panel and rig a car headlamp to it... " Not quite practical - stealing tarmac - just think about it (and some of the roads are so bad there's no tarmac to steal anyway). However, solar panels do get stolen... "They're using nuclear power as a front for developing weapons of mass destruction" - As a country that has suffered a terrorist attack on more than one occassion, why? In bad taste this. (Kenyan)
that's not true... The SAT-3 Cable does not go 'all the way around Africa' It's on the west coast of Africa, thus Kenya does not connect to it There ought to at least 1 Fiber Optic cable within 1-2 years connected though. There's a race to see who'll deploy this cable: TEAMS EASSY is being deployed by Alcatel-Lucent - http://allafrica.com/stories/200706050685.html FLAG - being pushed by KDN which is a party to the other two cables :)
In Kenya, the incumbent telco - Telkom Kenya (http://www.telkom.co.ke) and KDN (http://www.kdn.co.ke) are racing to put up Fiber all over the place, and connect to Uganda.
Soon enough communication infrastructure won't be a bottleneck to development
Take a look at this: http://www.affs.org.uk/grants
development needs to spurred by the people (me and the rest of the developing world) that require to be developed. Education though at primary school level has been free since 2003. Definately need more primary schools and high schools though. Even university teaches archaic courses.. I work in telecoms and being playing with IT for bout 10 years and nothing i learnt (sic) in campus is practiced as such. Josiah Kenya
I totally agree I'm Kenyan, in Kenya. Kenya is definately not Sudan or Congo, we are fortunate to have been spared war, so in terms of IT , we are better off than most of our neighbours. Most technical/ IT people in the region happen to be Kenyans. That said, we still lag way behind the rest of the world. This i think due to poor policies. I hate using the IF word but if we had good govt policies on IT we would have a great telecoms infrastructure. Guys here are bright, just that opportunities to further one's knowledge get fewer as one progresses. In rural Kenya most people are more concerned with getting food than learning the difference between Fedora and Knoppix But there are definately positive signs that this will change within the next few years.
I wonder how long it will take for most major cities to become hotspots. I'm envisaging a scenario where one can have a 802.16 phone and use it for calls Mobile Operators would have an advantage in that they possibly can utilize their infrastructure for the same services.
I live in Kenya. Outside of the capital city Nairobi and the major towns, the vast majority of people have no inkling what google is (even if there is google.co.ke), however throw someone in Garissa a cocacola, (s)he'll know what to do about it...
i also do like enterprise though i wonder far they are going to progress along. the in thing seems to be getting a classic and 'starting from scratch' - star wars, batman, smallville (superman)