#Connect2016: 350 tourist destinations to have tech hubs to link tech and art

Over 350 tourist destinations are set to be linked with tech hubs so as to drive technology and art, one example of this is the Swahili Pot, built just next to Fort Jesus, Mombasa County.

This was said by the Director of National Museums, Mzalendo Kibunjia during a tour held in Swahili Pot yesterday to familiarize with the pot awaiting its official launch later in the year. The tour to the facility also took place concurrently with the Connected Summit, in Diani Kwale County.

“After the launch of Swahili Pot, we are looking at launching similar hubs across over 350 tourist destinations. We will give the youths of Mombasa our full support so as to make them tech savvy.We want our youths to develop innovations to promote culture and tourism,” said Dr. Kibunjia.

The Swahili Pot, will be a public hotspot point where youths in the County will have free access to the facility to leverage on the free internet provided to grow art, culture and tourism.

The pot was enabled through the partnership of the Government, National Museums of Kenya, SEACOM and Cisco. In its part, the National Museums of Kenya offered land, while SEACOM provided 100MB of broadband bandwidth and CISCO on the other hand provided the wireless connectivity to the facility.

The facility seeks to help the youths of Mombasa leverage on technology to grow art and culture as well as promote tourism. Through free access of Swahili Pot, youths will be able to use platforms like Youtube to upload their art videos as well as leverage on digital marketing for their products.

Present during the tour was the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of ICT, Mr. Joe Mucheru, who applauded the step by SEACOM, CISCO and the National Museums of Kenya. Other people present were Rwanda PS, Youth and ICT, Ms Rosemary Mbabazi, Kenya PS’s Ministry of ICT, Victor Kyalo and Sammy Itemere, SEACOM’s Managing Director Joseph Mureithi and CISCO’s Country Manager David Bunei.

“This move to have the Swahili Pot couldn’t have come at a better time. The Combination of technology and art will go far away in transforming lives in Mombasa County. Technology is an enabler and youths in Mombasa County should be able to take advantage of this,” said CS Mucheru.

There will also be coding classes to help the youths come up with innovations and apps to help address some societal issues. However, there will be a few regulations put in place to prevent misuse of the facility.

Mombasa County is one of Africa’s leading tourist destinations thanks to its beaches and the historic sites like the Fort Jesus. The move to have Swahili pot wireless connection will also be shared with the tourists at Fort Jesus and neighbouring destinations.