The Universal Service Advisory Council (USAC) has toured a device assembly plant at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) as part of efforts to expand digital inclusion through locally manufactured devices.
USAC Chairperson Hon. James Ongwae led the visit, which officials say is aimed at strengthening local innovation and partnerships supporting Kenya’s digital economy strategy. The council oversees the Universal Service Fund, which finances projects to extend telecommunications and internet access to underserved areas.
Devices assembled at the JKUAT plant are expected to support the rollout of Digital Hubs across the country, part of a broader push to widen access to digital services and infrastructure in rural and low-income communities.
Officials say locally assembled devices could lower the cost of computers and tablets destined for public digital hubs and learning institutions, reducing reliance on imported hardware.
The visit comes as Kenya’s broader technology sector continues to draw investment. Kenyan ventures Cella Mineral Storage, Octavia Carbon and Flux recently won nearly $30 million in catalytic climate-tech funding, while M-KOPA was ranked Kenya’s top startup in StartupBlink’s 2026 index, which places Kenya first in Eastern Africa and 61st globally.
USAC has not yet released a timeline for when devices from the JKUAT plant will begin shipping to Digital Hubs, but officials say further details will follow as the partnership is formalized.
