The 2nd National Summit on Community Networks, held at Mathare Vocational Center from March 6-7, 2025, brought together tech innovators, policymakers, and grassroots leaders to address connectivity challenges in Kenya’s underserved regions. With the theme “Building Sustainable Models for Community Networks,” over 120 participants—including Internet Society Africa, Communications Authority of Kenya, and the Ministry of ICT—gathered to advance #CommunityNetworks as the backbone of digital inclusion.
A standout moment of the summit was the success of the Mathare Community Network, showcasing transformative strides in last-mile connectivity. “This is how we build an inclusive digital future,” stated Douglas Mwangi, Executive Director of Oasis Mathare. Similarly, Rapudo Hawi of Kijiji Yeetu Community Network highlighted significant impacts, including affordable internet access and digital literacy for over 5,000 people in Ugunja. Their grassroots initiatives have extended low-cost broadband to more than 20 schools and have empowered over 1,000 youth and women through net warden-managed digital literacy programs.
From the Kijiji Yeetu perspective, the summit marked a vital platform for advocating community-centric approaches to connectivity. Rapudo Hawi emphasized that collaborative decision-making involving local communities, youth, and women ensures that the benefits of digital inclusion are distributed equitably. Kijiji Yeetu’s model thrives on hyper-local solutions, where trained net wardens from within communities not only manage digital infrastructure but also act as educators, fostering a culture of self-sufficiency in navigating the digital realm.
In addition, Kijiji Yeetu underscored the value of partnerships with schools and small businesses to create localized ecosystems of innovation. By integrating connectivity with agriculture programs, youth entrepreneurial training, and e-commerce initiatives, Kijiji Yeetu’s efforts have demonstrated that community networks can be powerful tools for economic empowerment and resilience-building. The summit also highlighted the need for policy reforms to accommodate community-led networks like Kijiji Yeetu, emphasizing how progressive spectrum management, funding access, and capacity-building programs could scale their impact. Hawi called for enhanced public-private-community alliances to address persistent barriers and realize the goal of universal connectivity.
The summit underscored the accomplishments of networks like TandaNet, GONLINE AFRICA, Oasis Mathare, AHERINet, and Tech Village Bungoma. Despite challenges such as policy barriers, funding gaps, and digital literacy struggles, the gathering emphasized solutions through stronger public-private partnerships, innovative financing models, and regulatory reforms. As the summit affirmed, connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s a fundamental right.
Key Partners & Supporters
Organizations driving the movement include Internet Society Foundation Internet Society Association for Progressive Communications The African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI) Communications Authority of Kenya ICT Authority ICANN Connect Humanity Mawingu Leapfrog NGO Raspberry Pi Foundation GONLINE AFRICA Tanda Community Network Aheri Basic Internet Limited (AHERINet) Charles Nyongesa unconnected.org. Together, they epitomize the transformative power of collaboration for digital inclusion and community-centered connectivity.
Kijiji Yeetu envisions a future where community networks not only provide affordable access but also act as catalysts for socio-economic transformation, placing people at the heart of technological progress.
