Make cheaper internet 2022 election agenda

Political campaigns are heating up, with presidential contenders doling out big promises if elected to office. As citizens, we are not passive listeners and cheerers. We have a responsibility to influence leaders to make promises in tandem with the country's most biting needs.

We should nudge the candidates to articulate how they will solve the short-term problems and lay firm foundations that will enable the majority of Kenyans to improve their livelihoods and protect the future.

Acres of pages have been written about how technology is an enabler, an empowerment tool, and a tide that lifts all boats. But its benefits don't just come by luck. It requires skills, supportive infrastructure, money, and men to ensure accessible and affordable internet, and allied technologies.

In recognition of the transformative power of technology, in 2016, the UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution that declared internet access a human right. Sadly, there are millions of people who can’t access it due to a litany of reasons.

Especially for the leaders seeking to rise to the pinnacle of power, bridging the rural-urban digital divide using broadband technology should be their number one promise. Many cities and towns around the world are implementing free public WI-FI. Why can't Kenya follow suit?

Right skills

They should endeavour to make the internet accessible and affordable to schools so that children can use relevant and tested online tools and content. Candidates should explain how they will set aside resources to equip teachers with the right skills so that they can, in turn, train future generations.

Teaching children meaningful use of technology does not have to be geared towards passing the examination.

That should be the least of the reasons. Children should be taught how to use technology to better themselves and society, while having some fun.

In western countries, for example, it is common for schools to organise hackathons. A hackathon means "marathon coding." In these events, students collaborate to create technology projects from scratch.

At the hackathons, not only do students get together to build things, but they also attend workshop presentations to see projects developed by other students, thereby honing their coding skills further. These events plant seeds of creativity in the young people's minds.

It's not lost to many that the current administration promised laptops for all class one kids in the run-up to the election eight years ago. As those kids sit their class eight examinations next year, many will not have used laptops because the much-hyped project never came to pass.

 But that disappointment should not make us cynical. It should strengthen our resolve to keep a watchful eye not to be retaken for a ride on such essential issues.

Let's pull all stops to make affordable and reliable internet a 2022 election agenda. It’s the scaffold that our economy needs.

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