Editor's Review

"Safaricom's internet speeds drop frequently." 

Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata has urged the government to ignore Safaricom after it emerged that the telco had asked Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to reconsider its decision to grant a license to Starlink internet providers. 

Safaricom asked the regulator to assess the risks of allowing satellite internet providers to operate without an agreement with local companies.  

“Satellite service providers should therefore not be granted a license directly/independently but rather only permitted to operate under the license rights of the local licensee," part of the memo by Safaricom said. 

However, in a statement on Saturday, August 24, Kang'ata rooted for Starlink adding that Safaricom's internet speeds are low and frequently drop. 

"Government should ignore Safaricom. Muranga automated its healthcare. Safaricom's internet speed drops frequently. The speed is so low. At times, 4.7Mbps. New Starlink internet speeds hit 100 Mbps. This saves lives. And it's not affected by weather," Kang'ata remarked.

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Kenyans have expressed admiration for Starlink's internet speeds and the cost as compared to Safaricom. 

On Saturday, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli declared his support for the Starlink internet connection.

Starlink internet connection set-up.

Atwoli claimed that the perceived efficiency and reliability of the foreign package would be of great help to Kenyans who use the Internet for their daily work.

"Kenyan workers will benefit immensely from the great innovation, Starlink, that has been engineered by Space X. If anything, the purpose of introduction of any technology is to make life easier, and that’s why we supported Mpesa, which is now a global product," Atwoli remarked.

Similarly, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa claimed that Starlink was addressing Kenya's slow internet issues and offering a competitive alternative.

"Starlink's high-speed, low-latency satellite internet is addressing Kenya's slow and expensive internet issues by offering a competitive alternative, reducing prices, & improving service quality, and fostering greater access & connectivity for personal and professional growth," he stated.

Starlink was developed by SpaceX, a private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company owned by X owner Elon Musk.

Its internet connection relies on satellites, unlike Safaricom's internet, which uses undersea cables that have previously been destroyed, causing internet outages.