Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has today launched the first Kenyan-made laptop to the public by the ICT Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i. The event was graced by Taifa Brand, NITP and Intel at Fairmont the Norfolk. The laptop is named Taifa which is Kiswahili word for nation. JKUAT began assembling desktop computers in 2006, the E-MADO brand, in partnership with Ministry of Industrialization and other public/private partners and today marks the first introduction of the Taifa laptop to the public.
The TAIFA Brand Laptop is a product of the Nairobi Industrial and Technological Park (NITP). NITP is a kenyan vision 2030 flagship project between Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Tecnology (JKUAT) and the Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development (MOIED). The project advances the triple heritage of providing worldclass solutions, creating jobs and wealth and creating the pride of our Nation in the spirit of “Buy Kenya, Build Kenya”
The Vice Chancellor of JKUAT Mrs. Mabel Imbuga said that the laptop is the first to be produced in the country and its 100% owned by JKUAT. “JKUAT champions innovation and research to create market for the young entrepreneurs in the institution. “She added.
“The Taifa laptop is a landmark in the ICT sector in Kenya. The project will certainly provide world class solutions to create jobs in the country especially in the ICT sector.” Dr. Fred Matiang’i said. Matiang’i also provided that Jubilee government rolled digital program and intends to lay a foundation for future technology serving in all schools for a better learning environment and JKUAT is at an upper hand to lay the pillars and act as an ambassador in the program.
“To be able to deliver education we need devices and companies are given a challenge to employ fresh knowledge from schools to develop on their innovation and build content in different institutions.” Dr. Matiang’i added. The cabinet secretary emphasized on investment in connectivity and digitization in all institutions in the country. He encouraged innovators to assemble more ICT related devices given that the government has placed an exemption from VAT inputs imported for assembling of ICT devices.
Key Features of the Taifa laptop
Display
- 14.0” WXGA HD (1366×768)
Processor Options
- Intel® CoreTM i3 – 400M, Intel® Processors 2.4Ghz
Operating System Options
- Genuine Windows® 8.1
- Genuine Microsoft Office® 2013
Memory
- DDR3 SDRAM 4GB RAM
Storage
- 500GB 7200 rpm SATA Hard Drive
Optical Drive
- 8X DVD+/-RW
Multimedia
- High quality speakers, Stereo headphone & Microphone jack
- HDMI Port
- HD video webcam
Connectivity
- 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
Wireless LAN
- IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth
- Wireless Bluetooth® 4.0
Ports, Slots & Chassis
- Network connector (RJ-45), USB 2.0 (1), USB3.0 (2)
- Stereo headphone & Microphone jacks, Memory card reader slot
Input Device
- Single pointing keyboard
- Smooth Touchpad
Battery
- 6-cell (60Whr) Lithium Ion battery – 4200mAh
The laptop is now available to the public and goes for Shs 46, 720. JKUAT intends to launch more models besides Taifa A3 in the coming years.
WanjohiKE when you say Kenyan made, what parts were made in Kenya?
@TheRealWainaina WanjohiKE The design is Kenyan. Just like Apple designs the iPhone but outsources the components, so did JKUAT.
kachwanya when you say Kenyan made, what parts were made in Kenya? The chip? HDD? Monitor? Or was it simply assembled here?
What effort does it take to design an authentic logo that is not plagiarized? Even an illiterate person can tell you that that is Sony VAIO imitation in a blink of an eye.
omanimo Could be professional designers are very expensive in Kenya. Just saying.
WanjohiKE CallMeAlien I see they made good use of the Sony Vaio logo font.
uwanja haha! Yup! WanjohiKE
WanjohiKE I’ll ask the obvious question: Why does it ship with Windows, as opposed to Linux?
CallMeAlien uwanja I thought I was the only one who saw that :-) WanjohiKE
moffatmn CallMeAlien WanjohiKE Inaitwa kureinvent the wheel. Why have a Kenyan flag on it though? Imagine Apple,Acer and HP having flags.
WanjohiKE MacOtani the way to go
WanjohiKE as well as the first East African made laptop. Kudos Kenya!
CarolKayamba WanjohiKE Aah that’s nice…For us By Us…so far so good tupunguze Uchina kiasi…halafu after testing wapewe spply ya primo
WanjohiKE this is awesome!!
WanjohiKE e0504c48e054405 how much…wanna buy
WanjohiKE how much
MtuPombe 49K
Mike_marshall17 smh 49k niko na na better upuss
WanjohiKE MeanKaiser how much? I’m buying!
WanjohiKE MumbiKaptere Imagine the potential benefits of giving the school laptop tender to DiscoverJKUAT &cutting middlemen #TaifaLaptop
JamesAlanOLOO That is the Kenya we would want to live in but we must elect ppl with vision not #tenderprenurs Cc WanjohiKE DiscoverJKUAT
JamesAlanOLOO WanjohiKE MumbiKaptere DiscoverJKUAT am just wondering do they have the capacity. They are importing the motherboard
This is the latest absurd trending stupidity that we have the unfortunate chance of witnessing it in Kenya. You take an Sony Vaio stock laptop, put the national flag sticker and fool us that it is made in Kenya? Oh please! So it’s made in Kenya, alright…what OS is it running on? WINDOWS! OK, made in Kenya.@!$%$
Wow, this futuristic laptop is really cool! I saw some website publish a
similar futuristic laptop but not sure it is a true one. I look forward to see this touchscreen thingy will be able to use it commonly in the next 5 years. Do you think it is possible?
http://textycafe.com/best-gaming-laptops-under-700/
This is the latest absurd trending stupidity that we have the unfortunate chance of witnessing it in Kenya. You take an Sony Vaio stock laptop, put the national flag sticker and fool us that it is made in Kenya? Oh please! So it’s made in Kenya, alright…what OS is it running on? WINDOWS! OK, made in Kenya.@!$%$ http://textycafe.com/best-gaming-laptops-under-700/