Why we must rethink the Digital Divide post Covid-19

 

It is apparent that the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed our bareness as a country with regards to the digital divide. This is basically the gap between those who have ready access to electronic devices (including TVs, phones and computers) and internet and those who don’t. Just to highlight, school-going age group including University students are no longer able to effectively access academic content since the advent of the unprecedented online learning. On the other hand, the vast number of jobs especially start-ups have become unsustainable obviously since individuals cannot work remotely due to disparities in internet coverage characterised by high excise duty. Insightfully considering these examples, we the young people are feeling the pinch. Shouldn’t this be alarming considering the future of the country is overly pegged on what this population does today? What essentially has to be done to mop up this mess?

Figure 1: There are discrepancies in internet and device coverage in Kenya and Africa at large

Photo by Eirik Solheim on Unsplash

The truth is that infrastructure to support the digital economy and literacy is wanting. A glimpse in the informal settlements and the villages paints a picture of scanty access to the digital devices and consequently the internet; safe for the cyber cafés which are too chocked with unnecessary levies in order to operate. Previous efforts by this regime to ingrain digital literacy from the basic level of education in the 24.6 billion laptop project unceremoniously collapsed. It is high time the stakeholders of goodwill come on board and facilitate infrastructural development as well as increase affordability for digital access.

 The targeted citizens lagging behind in this digital age may lack the relevant skills to enable closing the digital divide gap with a major factor being having no value for the same. Religious and cultural brainwashing on grounds of being a threat to their ultimate existence has contributed to a vast number of the antagonists to digital literacy today. Therefore, with reports indicating a 39% less likelihood of women accessing the internet compared to men in Kenya, users ought to be empowered to appreciate the value of digital literacy while addressing the gender gap in internet access.

Apart from having to own the digital devices, it could just be surprising to note that the online content on the web browsers ‘google chrome’ being an example is not relevant to the masses in the country. E-commerce platforms as well as social media spaces have been infiltrating into the larger population quite at a slow pace as individuals start resonating with them, thanks to accelerated globalisation. Creation of local content has not been promoted as such through support of artists with policy issues being prominent. You should have heard the Kenyan artistes crying foul for being cushioned with an estimated five thousand shillings each during the entire period of this pandemic. Surprising, isn’t it? The young people are here to save the sinking ship through their diverse talents when given an opportunity by creating prevalent content through platforms like Viusasa.

Figure 2: The young people must be at the centre of bridging the digital divide gap

Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash

In spite of some quotas claiming that the use of the internet is unproductive especially among the youths, collective efforts should be made to support the digital economy with the young people set to be the catalysts hence can be able to actively participate in the society. This is because addressing the digital divide would increase employment opportunities, increase wages as well as stimulate the country’s economic growth in the near future through embracing of emerging fields in technology such as geospatial and data sciences as well as cyber security. Talking of the future, it always seems far away but actually begins right now. it is worthwhile to acknowledge the Kenya’s Competency Based Curriculum that is keen on promoting digital literacy through Technology as a subject. All said and done, could the envisaged establishment of constituency innovation hubs be the silver bullet? Time will tell.