Africa-Press – Kenya. Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna on Friday, July 23, clarified reports that the country will experience internet interruptions due to the relocation of fibre optic cable.
In his statement, Oguna dismissed the report in a local daily as false and mentioned that although the Ministry of ICT was moving the cable, the internet would not be disrupted.
The Spokesman explained that the Ministry of ICT had engaged KeNHA to properly relocate the internet cable without disruptions.
“Internet users are therefore hereby, advised not to panic as the Ministry of ICT is working in conjunction with the Ministry of Infrastructure, through KeNHA, and have devised a mechanism to ensure zero effect on internet supply during this permanent relocation of the fibre optic cable to pave way for road construction,” Oguna stated.
Relocation of the optic cable will be in four lots: Rironi-Naivasha via Mai Mahiu, Rironi-Naivasha, Naivasha-Nakuru and Nakuru-Mau Summit.
Reports had earlier claimed that Kenyans should prepare for internet disruptions over the next six weeks – necessitated by the infrastructural adjustments.
ICT PS Jerome Ochieng stated that the government planned to relocate the internet cable beginning the end of July 2021 ahead of the construction of the 234 kilometre highway.
He added that locals would be given priority in job opportunities during the relocation. The 234 kilometre road construction will see improvement of transport to and from Western and the Rift Valley regions of Kenya.
“State Department of ICT and Innovation will undertake the relocation of fibre infrastructure to minimise downtime. It will take up to six weeks and there will be disruptions during the period,” stated Ochieng.
“Once the relocation is complete the project will continue to deliver socioeconomic transformation and help develop a huge information highway from the heart of Kenya to the rest of the country,” he continued.
The Nairobi-Mau Summit road project is part of the Trans-African Highway—the main transport route serving East and Central African countries from the port of Mombasa.
Kenya last year awarded the highway contract to Rift Valley Highway Limited—a French consortium made up of Vinci Highways SAS, Meridian Infrastructure Africa Fund, and Vinci Concessions SAS.
The project seeks to expand the road into a four-lane dual carriageway through a Public-Private Partnership model.
The consortium is expected to design, finance, construct, operate and maintain the road, recouping their investment through toll charges over 30 years.
