The telecommunications regulator, the Communications Commissions of Kenya (CCK) has released funds worth Sh10 million to two technology institutions to facilitate the establishment of a proposed local assembly point for computers under an initiative called 'madaraka'.

The two institutions are Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and the Kenya College of Communications Technology. The two have been mandated to assemble local computer units with the aim of providing quality and affordable PC's to the market.

The project comes in the wake of rising fears that Kenya had become a dumping site for electronic waste in the form of outdated Personal Computers (PCs) and other computer hardware and software.

The assembled computers will go a long way in aiding individuals or groups who cannot afford to buy the gadgets from the shops. This is because the price of Madaraka (assembled computer) will be about half that of similar computers with similar specification. Some of the already 100 assembled computers are currently being used at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

As Kenya gears towards becoming a frontier in ICTs, there is an urgent need to allow everyone access to affordable personal computers and credit will go to all those institutions or organisations that do the assembling of PC's.

The Director General of CCK Eng. John Waweru said the project was timely saying that his organisation has also unveiled an ambitious ICT initiative aimed at delivering high speed broadband in the country.

And on his part, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Information and Communication Dr. Bitange Ndemo said the assembling of computer parts will be crucial in ICT developments in the country.

The initiative was launched last year but could not be unveiled sooner due to lack of funding. Two other institutions of Higher Learning, University of Nairobi and Strathmore University have also shown considerable interest in assembling local PC's. They await financing from donors to kick-start the project.