Demand for set-top boxes (STBs) in Kenya has surged in recent days after government officials insisted the deadline to switch over from analogue to digital broadcasting would not be extended.

Information and Communication Technology cabinet secretary, Fred Matiangi has reiterated that the migration deadline would not be moved from December 13 despite concerns by stakeholders in the broadcasting sector.

It is feared that more than 1.5 million Kenyans might be inconvenienced by the December switch off deadline that is scheduled to start in Nairobi before extending to other towns.

“One realises the switch off will come during the December festivities a time when children will be home for their end year holiday. This is why I have decided to purchase and install this GOTV pay channel TV in advance,” said John Walekho, a resident in Nairobi.

However, it was also reported that majority of Kenyans say they are not prepared adequately for the pending switch-off with most of them citing the high prices of the STB as the main reason as to why they had not acquired the device.

“The STB are expensive to acquire, the government should have subsidized their prices to make affordable for ordinary Kenyans,” said a source from Analogue-Digital Migration.

Locals also complained that not much had been done in terms of public sensitising of the analogue-digital migration process.

They further called upon the government to reconsider its deadline as, if it remained unchanged, would cut out many Kenyans from essential broadcasting services.