Elon Musk has announced that the Starlink Mini will be available in Kenya later this year at approximately half the price of the standard terminal.
This announcement comes in response to widespread public outcry against Kenya’s leading telecommunications company, Safaricom, and its alleged collaboration with the government to stifle the #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests.
Kenyans have taken to social media to express their frustration with Safaricom, accusing the telco of working with the government to slow down internet services and impede citizen journalism. Prominent activist Amerix (@amerix) tweeted, “Our current Internet Service Providers collaborate with a repressive regime to throttle citizen journalism and muzzle freedom of speech.”
In response, Elon Musk confirmed via Twitter that “Starlink Mini will be about half the standard terminal price and available later this year,” signaling a potential shift in the digital landscape of Kenya.
The introduction of the more affordable Starlink Mini is anticipated to provide Kenyans with an alternative to traditional ISPs, potentially enhancing access to uncensored internet services. This move is seen as a step towards empowering citizen journalism and ensuring freedom of speech in the face of government censorship efforts.
The promise of more accessible satellite internet has been met with optimism by many Kenyans who hope it will bolster their ability to communicate freely and hold their government accountable. As the nation awaits the rollout of Starlink Mini, the broader implications for digital freedom and democracy in Kenya remain to be seen.
