Ruto Promises to Provide Free Internet, Phone Calls If Elected President

Deputy President William Ruto says Kenyans will enjoy free phone calls and internet connection if he ascends to power after the August 9th elections.

Ruto, who is eyeing the presidency on a UDA party ticket, said every household will have access to free data as part of his government’s efforts to curb the rising cost of internet and facilitate business that highly depends on communication.

“Watu wengi wanahangaika na bundles…pale sokoni, kupiga simu hautahitaji bundles, kwa sababu vile tunatengeneza barabara ya kupeleka mali yetu, lazima tuwe na barabara digital ya serikali ili usilipishwe kutumia barabara, unalipishwa kile kitu umenunua,” Ruto said.

“Biashara katika masoko yenu, simu utakuwa unapiga free of charge, simu haitakuwa inakatika kwa sababu sasa tutakuwa tumedeploy internet.”

The deputy president explained that the internet connectivity program would be implemented in the same way the Jubilee administration has executed the Last Mile Connectivity Program which aims at universal access to electricity.

“The same way we implemented the last mile of electricity, now we will do a last mile of internet. Tutatumia kila nyumba, kila soko, kila shule mahali kuna stima ya grid pia sasa tutaweka last mile,” he remarked.

“We have done the arithmetic of the programme and we will require about Ksh.38 billion, to enable us to push the internet to every household.”

Ruto, who spoke on Wednesday during the launch of Kiambu County Hustlers fund, said the program will not only facilitate business transactions but also cut the rising costs of internet tariffs across different telecommunication networks.

“Hustlers Fund is wholesome, it will cater for the business people, mama mboga, Boda Boda, those in start-up businesses so that we unite the youth, women and everyone so that we move forward. Vijana wataweza kuendeleza online business free of charge.”