September 2024
Kijiji Yeetu Community Networks in Ugunja have adopted sustainability pathways and integrated KopoKopo payment solutions, ensuring that underserved communities in last mile villages have safe and secure internet access, promoting economic growth, reaching a larger customer base, and sustainability.
In Siaya County, the digital revolution is now transforming lives in Ugunja. What was once a sleepy rural town is now buzzing with opportunity from the game-changing partnership between grassroots initiative Kijiji Yeetu and mobile payment platform KopoKopo. The platform has been linked to the Kijiji Yeetu internet billing system, is providing affordable and accessible internet to residents in Ugunja. Before this initiative, high-speed internet was a luxury for most Ugunja residents. However, since launching in September 2024, Kijiji Yeetu has generated nearly Kshs 15,000 in payments via KopoKopo, allowing hundreds of residents to access local internet hotspots with ease. This has significantly impacted rural communities like Ugunja, bridging the digital divide and promoting economic growth and development. The digital revolution has had a profound impact on various aspects of life in Ugunja: youth who once struggled to find resources now have knowledge at their fingertips. Internet usage has surged, ensuring new skills and opportunities previously out of reach. Online platforms are enhancing local farmers’ agricultural skills, expanding small businesses, fostering collaboration among families, and enhancing yields and livelihoods.
Kijiji Yeetu has become a thriving hub of innovation, empowering residents to learn new skills, access financial resources, and improve their livelihoods. Mobile money transactions for other services, such as healthcare and online shopping, have spiked by 30%, demonstrating the deep impact of this digital transformation. The digital revolution in Ugunja is a testament to the power of connectivity in rural Kenya. The partnership between Kijiji Yeetu and KopoKopo is not just providing internet; it’s opening up a world of new opportunities. Internet use is soaring and more businesses going online, the economic and social future of Ugunja is brighter. This success story shows that rural communities can thrive in the digital age when provided with the necessary tools and support.
