Chebarus village in Nandi County experiences poor network coverage.
In Chebarus village, Nandi County, a unique challenge persists—one that has affected the social and love lives of young men and women. The problem?
“We’ve had a severe lack of network communication that has made connecting with potential suitors—and even securing jobs—an uphill battle,” says Caren Komen, 32, who was forced to move her salon business from Chebarus to Nandi, which is about five kilometres away.
Ms Komen says as modern technology continues to shape the world, be it in courtship where lovers communicate via mobile phones or securing jobs, Chebarus remains stuck in the past, relying on old, unconventional means to bridge the gap.
Impact on daily life
She says the lack of reliable network coverage is a constant frustration, which has hindered their personal and professional lives.
“In most cases, I am forced to climb up a nearby tree for network communication to be effective. There is a lot of critical information we miss as residents of this area,” Ms Komen says.
This network barrier has left many youths in the village frustrated, secluded from the outside world, with relationships suffering as a result.
“When communication is broken completely, how can a youth at a desired age look for a wife or husband or even succeed in courtship?,” Ms Komen says. “Poor communication has prolonged the period of social isolation for many young people.”
The elders of the village, including Joseph Sitienei, 78, say unlike in traditional days when people met by the river or farms, many young men and women now are in the dark socially.
“In the 1960s or 1970s, whistling was our phone of those days,” says Mr Sitienei, referring to the traditional methods used for courting. In those times, suitors would meet at rivers, exchange their thoughts and feelings and agree to meet the next day at a specific time. These simple but effective forms of communication helped foster relationships without the need for modern-day gadgets.
But he says, times have changed. Today’s youth do not go to rivers or posho mills often and therefore they have miss out on opportunities due to the unreliable network coverage, as their peers are constantly online.
Thomas Kiprotich from Chebarus village in Nandi County.
Thomas Kiprotich, 31, voices the frustrations of many, saying, “Poor networks have cost us online job opportunities, including marketing our fresh produce on social media platforms. Kenya is moving fast digitally, and businesses are transacted mostly through online platforms, something that we cannot do because we have no network.”
James Kibor, 72, says most of the young people favour textationships, relationships that primarily exists through texting, potentially lacking face-to-face interaction and deeper connection, and this kind of communication is not genuine.
“In our time, we were very truthful men. If you wanted a hand in marriage with someone's daughter, you could not afford to lie,” says Mr Kibor, contrasting today’s dating culture, which he believes has been corrupted by technology and deceit.
Call to action
Other elders argue that poor network aside, the young people are lazy layabouts and if they really wanted to court they would find a solution.
William Kosgey, an elder from Taunet Aic Village in Tinderet.
William Kosgey, says that in the old days, they would even send a spy to the home of the woman they wanted to marry. “In the old days we could use young children [who are deemed swifter runners] to reach out to the woman we were interested in,” adds Benjamin Birgen.
Mr Kiprotich is now urging their Member of Parliament, Julius Melly, to push telecommunication providers to improve the network coverage in the region.
“Our love lives, job prospects, and access to critical information depend on it,” he says.
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