Pupils, parents and net wardens at a Kijiji Yeetu community event in Ugunja

Pupils at computers at the Kijiji Yeetu Centre

Pupils learning together with a tablet at the Kijiji Yeetu Centre

Net wardens at work on a network pole in Ugunja

A speaker addressing the community at a Kijiji Yeetu event

Net wardens working at the base of a network pole

KY-01 // Signal liveCommunity network — Ugunja, Siaya County

The community behind the network

Pupils, parents and net wardens at a Kijiji Yeetu event in Ugunja — the network belongs to the people it serves.

A community-owned network bringing affordable internet, digital skills and opportunity to Ugunja, Siaya County — from the village up. Built locally, run locally, owned locally.

Read our story See how the network works

100 MbpsWireless backhaul
37,500+Lives impacted
50Net wardens trained
2011Founded in Ugunja

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Our impact

Empower change, measured in people

lives impacted through digital literacy, community development and sustainability projects since 2011.

Pupils using tablets at a Kijiji Yeetu event

Pupils empowered through digital literacy sessions in partner schools.

Teachers trained to use connectivity and online resources in class.

Local net wardens trained to build and maintain community networks.

Areas of focus

Digital transformation
Information and communication technologies applied to the problems communities name themselves — from service delivery to local enterprise.
Multistakeholder dialogue
Consultations and public participation that bring residents, government, civil society and the private sector into one conversation.
Communities of practice
Net wardens, smart village champions and grassroots engineers learning together — and keeping the network running.
Community-centred connectivity
A 100 Mbps wireless network in Ugunja, designed so residents shape its content, services and future.
Digital literacy
Internet safety and practical digital skills for young people, teachers and community institutions.

Areas of focus

Information and communication technologies applied to the problems communities name themselves — from service delivery to local enterprise.

All initiatives

The journey of Kijiji Yeetu

In 2011, a conversation at iHub on Ngong Road became a network of villages solving their own problems.

Young people in Ugunja, Kisii, Machakos, Tana River and Nairobi’s informal settlements were being left behind: scarce work, costly internet, few second chances. We began with dialogue, not equipment.

Partners including Amani Kibera, Oasis Mathare, County Governance Watch and Usalama Forum carried the work through 2020. That February, Kijiji Yeetu was registered as a non-profit with the Registrar of Societies.

Community members gathered at a Kijiji Yeetu event

Every project starts as a conversation in the village. Local committees set the priorities, hold the budget, and keep the network running after we leave.

Ugunja, Kisii, Machakos, Tana River and Nairobi.

Founded: 2011
Registered: 2020
Base: Ugunja, Siaya
Counties: Five

Digital skills for the village

Digital literacy sessions, teacher training and internet safety work that help pupils and residents use connectivity for learning, public services and local enterprise.

Explore digital learning

Low-cost internet in schools
Internet as a daily tool
Internet safety and digital skills
Access to resources

With partners including the Internet Society Kenya chapter and 48percent.org, we keep improving internet access in Ugunja.

Weaving last mile connectivity

An inclusive strategy for rural digital transformation: residents reach network infrastructure through connected devices, then use it for services that matter to them.

Community ownership

Ugunja people customise the network and its content to align with their values and cultural heritage.

Youth employment

Market-relevant skills open new channels for work, especially for those who cannot leave the village.

Access to government services

Essential digital services reach people who were previously offline.

Social inclusion

Communication between Ugunja and the wider world, on the community's own terms.

See how the network works

Net wardens at work near Nyasanda Polytechnic in Ugunja

How the network works

One backhaul, one village, four doors in

See the full network diagram

Wireless backhaul

A 100 Mbps link brings the internet into Ugunja.

Kijiji Yeetu Centre

The gateway, local server and backup power that keep it running.

Solar village node

A solar-powered smart village node carries it out to the village.

Every door

Schools, government offices, CBOs, markets and village hotspots.

From the field

All publications

Research · 2024

The impact and role of community networks in Kenya

Evidence on how locally owned networks bridge the digital divide, build digital skills and preserve indigenous knowledge.

Study · 2023

KijiTech bandwidth usage study report

What a 12-month connectivity project in Ugunja taught us about demand, affordability and the last mile.

Training · 2023

Forum on internet governance, digital safety and cybersecurity

How the forum put youth, women and people with disabilities at the front of digital safety work in Ugunja.

Survey · Ugunja

Ugunja community ICT penetration and skills gap analysis

A feasibility study connecting schools, government offices and community organisations to skills and high-speed internet.

Voices from the field

“This isn’t just a story of connectivity; it’s a revolution. The ripple effects of these smart villages will be felt for generations. As a teacher, I’ve watched horizons broaden and opportunities multiply, all starting from the simple act of giving a village the tools to connect.”

Mr Stephen OdhiamboTeacher, Kijiji Yeetu partner school