Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has called on the Kenyan government to dismiss Safaricom’s opposition to the entry of Starlink, a satellite internet service developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Safaricom had urged the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to reconsider its decision to license Starlink, arguing that satellite internet providers should operate under agreements with local companies to mitigate potential risks.
In a statement on August 24, Kang’ata criticized Safaricom’s internet service, citing frequent disruptions and slow speeds, which he claimed hinder essential services in Murang’a. “Safaricom’s internet speed drops frequently. The speed is so low. At times, 4.7 Mbps. New Starlink internet speeds hit 100 Mbps. This saves lives. And it’s not affected by weather,” Kang’ata remarked.
The governor’s stance has garnered support from various quarters, including Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, who highlighted the potential benefits of Starlink’s efficiency and reliability for Kenyan workers.
“Kenyan workers will benefit immensely from the great innovation, Starlink, that has been engineered by SpaceX,” Atwoli noted, drawing parallels to the widespread adoption of Safaricom’s Mpesa.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa also backed Starlink, emphasizing its potential to address Kenya’s slow and expensive internet issues. “Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency satellite internet is addressing Kenya’s slow and expensive internet issues by offering a competitive alternative,” Barasa stated.
