Digital TV Project feted among best social responsibility projects in Kenya

The Kenya China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA) has recognized the 800 digital television project to Kenya as among the best social responsibility projects executed by a Chinese enterprise in the country.

Themed “New Start, New Chapter”, the third report by KCETA on Social Responsibility recognized member companies who had undertaken outstanding social responsibility projects while pledging increased responsibilities of its 107 member companies to Kenya’s economic and social development towards creating job opportunities, local human capital empowerment and sharing high-quality vocational education resources.

The digital television project is among the ten Cooperation plans announced during the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) announced in 2015 in Johannesburg South Africa by the President of China Mr. Xi Jinping.

The 800 digital television project to Kenya was successfully implemented across the 47 counties through installation of StarTimes digital satellite television services in public institutions and select individual households.

Twenty households in each of the 800 villages were installed with a StarTimes Satellite television service composed of a satellite dish, a high definition set top box and accessories while three public institutions in each village received two solar powered satellite projector TV systems and one 32 inch television set. In total, 16,000 individual households and 2,400 public institutions benefitted from the project.

The project was rolled out through the Ministry of ICT with digital television company StarTimes as the contractor at a cost of over Ksh.0.8 Billion with the Ministry taskforce developing set criteria that was used to qualify beneficiaries ensuring equity in the distribution process.

Speaking when he released KCETA’s third edition of the social responsibility report, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian, said that 107 Chinese firms who are members of KCETA, had seen great potential in Kenya’s economy as guided by the government’s Big Four Agenda and Vision 2030.

“KCETA members have over the years demonstrated that their contributions and involvement in the Kenyan economy are a win-win situation for everyone. They have leveraged their key industry-specific advantages to continuously explore their potential during the construction of roads, water conservancy projects, housing and other infrastructure and social investment projects,” noted Mr. Zhou.

Other social milestones recognized during the ceremony include renovating and reinforcing the embankments of the Nzoia River and directly saving 20,000 acres of agricultural land and 70,000 people in Busia county from the negative effects of flooding as well as the donation of about KSh.65 million worth of medical and protective materials towards efforts to combat the Covid 19 pandemic.