Making the Web Accessible and Safe to Women in Kenya

In rural Kenya, the illiteracy level which is borne of poverty is too high. Majority of the women here have never seen a computer, let alone work on it.

The ones fortunate enough to have a little education can access the web via their mobile phones, so long as said ohones are internet enabled, which is not always the case.

To access the Internet full time on these phones needs one to invest in enough airtime for the same, meaning that a lack of money equally means no internet, thus logging in becomes a herculean task.

It is so unfortunate that there isn't a single library in my community. Evenso, my organization, Malkia Foundation, which is undergoing registration as an NGO has plans to change this, if we get access to enough funding.

We hope to build a community library which we intend to fill with enough computers complete with internet, to enable girls and women log into the internet free of charge.

Presently, my organization has invested in 4 computers on which we mount data subscribed modems, and with which interested girls and women get access to their favourite sites on the web.

To feel safe on the web, I ensure that I only navigate safe sites, whose address starts with https:, unlike http: which are easily hackable.

Technology companies and the Kenya government can work together towards the implementation of innovations that are not only safe and affordable to everyone, but also fast and easily accessible to women.

Stringent measures should also be put in place in terms of tough punishments and very high fines to curb cyber crime as this might deter cyber criminals and make the web safer for all.