For many families in Kibera, reliable internet access was once considered a luxury. Today, affordable community broadband is gradually changing that reality, opening new opportunities for learning, employment, and small businesses.
NAIROBI, July 21 (Xinhua) -- With a tap on her tablet, teacher Dorice Nereah brought colorful images of fruits, animals, and faraway places to life for dozens of children in Kibera, Kenya's largest informal settlement.
"Children understand much better when they can see real images," she said. "The internet has made my lessons more interesting and has also helped me improve my own teaching."
For many families in Kibera, reliable internet access was once considered a luxury. Today, affordable community broadband is gradually changing that reality, opening new opportunities for learning, employment, and small businesses.
For as little as 10 Kenyan shillings (about 0.08 U.S. dollars), residents can purchase an hour of Wi-Fi through Konnect Internet, a community broadband service launched by Ahadi Corporation, a tech company founded by Chinese entrepreneur Zhou Tao.
According to Zhou, the company keeps prices low by building and operating its own end-to-end system covering network design, installation, software development, customer service, and maintenance, reducing operating costs while improving efficiency.
The initiative has also created employment opportunities by recruiting and training local residents.
One of them is Benard Ochieng, who grew up in Kibera and now works as a fiber-optic technician.
Before joining Konnect, he survived on occasional manual jobs to support his family. After receiving on-the-job training, he learned to install and maintain fiber networks within weeks.
The steady income has transformed his life. He has moved his family into a larger brick house and now supports not only his children but also his younger siblings.
"I can now provide for my family," Ochieng said.
Johnstone Namusasi, responsible for community outreach for the company, said that many families across Kibera are connecting to the internet from their own homes for the first time.
Now, children here are growing up with internet access at home, which gives them access to knowledge and opportunities that the previous generations never had, he added.
The affordable broadband service is also helping local entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
At a beauty salon tucked away in one of Kibera's narrow alleyways, owner Zawadi Gift uses the internet to browse new hairstyles and learn the latest beauty techniques.
Since installing broadband more than six months ago, she has noticed an increasing number of customers, many of whom recommend her salon to friends.
"My income has increased," she said.
Ahadi Corporation first piloted the community broadband model in Nairobi's Githurai 44 neighborhood in 2020 before expanding into Kibera in 2024. Its network now spans 35 neighborhoods across Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
According to Zhou, more than 25,000 households in Kibera have been connected, with coverage continuing to expand. ■
