The Senate ICT Committee has accused the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology of failing to fulfil its mandate in bridging the digital gap across the country, especially in marginalised and security-prone regions.

During a heated session on Thursday, senators took issue with the Ministry’s poor communication, slow project rollout, and lack of transparency in the use of the Universal Service Fund.

Chaired by Senator Allan Chesang, the session saw Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo and officials from the Communications Authority come under intense pressure to explain the disconnect between government promises and the lived realities of citizens in underserved areas.

Senator Chesang criticised the Ministry’s silence on USF-funded activities, saying the public was unaware of the projects being carried out.

“Why are you not doing any public communication about USF? No visibility, no branding of sites. Private tower companies seem to be taking credit for what the USF funds,” he stated.

He also questioned the failed school internet program, where institutions that were supposed to receive five years of free WiFi had shifted to commercial providers.

“Some schools had internet only on the day of launch. Today, they’ve moved to Safaricom. What happened to the five years of free internet the government promised?” Chesang asked.

Senator James Lomenen of Turkana delivered an emotional appeal, condemning the Ministry for neglecting northern counties where poor connectivity continues to endanger lives.

“People are dying in Turkana because there is no network. Security officers cannot respond to attacks in time. The invaders from Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda exploit our weak signal. How can the government protect its people without communication?” he posed.

Lomenen reminded the CS of a previous commitment he had made to improve connectivity in six months. He said there was no sign of progress and that communities in Turkana still rely on neighbouring countries' signals.

“You stood in the chamber and assured us that our network would match Uganda’s in six months. Yet today, when you enter Turkana, the first signal you get is MTN Uganda. Safaricom disappears,” he added.

He demanded a breakdown of work done in key areas including Todonyang, Lokiriama, and Napak, and warned that more promises without real progress would continue to cost lives.

In his defence, CS Kabogo acknowledged the challenges but said the Ministry was working in phases and using alternative funding sources to reach urgent areas.

“I promised six months, and I will keep my word. We are using Interior Ministry resources to reach high-risk zones because the budget is insufficient. The President has given direct orders that Kenya must be secure and Kenya must communicate,” he told the Committee.

He admitted shortcomings in public engagement around the Universal Service Fund and blamed delays on policy inconsistencies. He assured the committee that new guidelines had been approved by Cabinet and would help in improving visibility of the projects.

Despite the explanation, the Committee expressed disappointment and issued several instructions. The Ministry is required to hold a retreat with ICT stakeholders and the Senate ICT Committee to discuss USF progress and policy gaps.

It must also submit updated access gap data within 60 days and provide detailed progress reports to all senators for scrutiny.

The Committee is expected to reconvene after the retreat to evaluate the Ministry’s performance. Until then, the spotlight remains firmly on the ICT Ministry as senators await action, not just words.