Life on Lake Victoria
The lake feeds the region — and the network reaches the villages around it.
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.
- 100 MbpsWireless backhaul
- 37,500+Lives impacted
- 50Net wardens trained
- 2011Founded in Ugunja
Our impact
Empower change, measured in people
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lives impacted through digital literacy, community development and sustainability projects since 2011.
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Pupils empowered through digital literacy sessions in partner schools.
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Teachers trained to use connectivity and online resources in class.
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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.
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.
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.
How the network works
One backhaul, one village, four doors in
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 publicationsVoices 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.”
Partners who make it possible
We welcome partners ready to extend last mile connectivity to underserved communities, in Kenya and across the continent.
Let’s extend the network.
Foundations, companies and individuals all have a role in reaching the next village.
Partner with usTalk to the team