Google Plus Codes Launched in Kisumu
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- May 21, 2022
During th Africities Summit in Kisumu, Google announced the completion of assigning Plus Codes to businesses and social amenities across Kisumu City, Mbale, Luanda, Majengo, Mudete and Chavakali.
A Plus Code is a digital street address for places that do not have addresses. It is a simple code consisting of both leers and numerals combined with a location (for example; PRG6+QC Nairobi or VQX7+P2J Kisumu City). Plus Codes are an easier way of finding and sharing locations for places that do not have addresses.
The announcement follows the signing of a collaboration agreement between Google Plus Codes with Kisumu and Vihiga county governments to carry out pilots of 20,000 addresses per county to showcase Plus Codes live to the delegations set that attended the 9th Africities edition in Kisumu between the 17th to 21st May 2022.
Google Plus Codes team has extended their collaboration with Kisumu County to expand the addressing exercise to cover 60,000 more propeies.
H.E Prof Anyang Nyong’o, Governor of Kisumu County said
“The smart city of the future must incorporate technology in all aspects of life. That is why we need Plus Codes in a city like Kisumu. The trail of history has shown that technology has been the biggest prime mover of changes in the world as we go. And making problems solvable in a much faster and easier time than before.
Africities is the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa’s flagship event that strengthens the role of local and regional governments in the development of the continent and helps build the integration and unity of Africa from its territories. The previous 8th Africities edition, held in Marrakesh from 20 to 24 November 2018 in Morocco, registered an attendance of 8,300 participants.
The implementation exercise, conducted by the Google Plus Code team, includes oversight leads from Kisumu and Vihiga county governments tasked with facilitating the exercise that will culminate in the enactment of necessary legislation changes needed to activate address use.
Lead for Plus Codes in Africa, Jacqueline Rajuai said;
“We’re excited to work with local authorities in this implementation exercise to bring more Plus Codes to Kisumu and other regions across Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa.”
