With Safaricom improving network coverage from 60% to 75% by the end of this year, Torosoi in Kajiado becomes the latest beneficiary.
This is in a new rollout drive to boost its network coverage being done as part of the mobile operator’s regionalization program that kicked off last year.
Torosoi has not had mobile network connectivity for the last 16 years. It is located seven kilometres from the Kenya-Tanzania border and the nearest town is Bisil which is 54 kilometres away.
Previously, residents had to travel over 20 kilometres to make a call.
Speaking during the launch, Torosoi assistant Chief Paul Keloi noted that the community will now enjoy seamless communication and improved security.
“We had had several issues of insecurity and the challenge to the community was how to reach the police for help. It’s a good gift for Christmas,” he said.
To sustain the site, engineers will be modifying the site to use solar energy.
Speaking during the launch of the site, Safaricom’s Head of Regional Sales and Operations in Nairobi East Region George Mbyuki noted that the opening up of the new site were some of the fruits of the regional structure that was put in place last year.
“The strategic move to regionalisation has become a game changer in the way we are interacting and responding to our customers need. The rollout of this new site is a testimony that we are now more in touch with our customers than when the business was wholly run from Nairobi,” Mbyuki added.
In the last one year Safaricom has been able to bring on stream over eight new sites in Kajiado County, at Enkorika, Maparasha, Isinet, Ngatu and Pakase among others.
Previously, most of these areas did not have any network connection.