Kenyan telecommunication companies opened the first local phone assembly plant on Monday in collaboration with international manufacturers.
The opening of the plant follows after the government promised to establish a local smartphone assembly with a capacity to produce up to 3 million units annually.
The Athi River-based East Africa Device Assembly Kenya Limited chairman, Joshua Chepkwony shared with journalists during the launch that the device will retail from Ksh.7, 499.
The smartphones will be available countrywide at Faiba shops and dealer stores as well as Safaricom shops and the Masoko online platform. The mobile phone devices will be the 4G-enabled Neon 5-inch “Smarta” and 6 and-half-inch Ultra”’ with EADAK seeking to unveil a locally assembled tablet the coming months.
“The launch of EADAK reaffirms our belief in the power of connectivity to transform lives and drive economic progress. This partnership underscores our relentless pursuit to expand 4G access and empower Kenyans through affordable, high-quality smartphones, create employment opportunities and grow our economy,” said Peter Ndegwa, the CEO of Safaricom.
The job projection that the factory will generate is estimated to be between 300 and 500 direct jobs.
