Kenya Allocates KSh 13 Billion to Expand Fibre Network by 27,000 Kilometres
By combining public funding with private investment, Kenya aims to strengthen its national digital backbone and expand reliable broadband access across the country.
Kenya plans to invest KSh 13 billion to expand its national fibre-optic backbone and cross-border connectivity infrastructure, targeting at least 27,000 kilometres of fibre under the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP).
John Kipchumba Tanui, Principal Secretary in the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, announced the funding during a pre-bid session in Nairobi involving internet service providers, telecommunications operators, investors, financiers and development partners. The meeting focused on the framework agreement tender for national backbone and cross-border links. Jessy Maruti, chief executive officer of the ICT Authority, also attended.
The government’s funding is intended to attract matching private-sector investment to close connectivity gaps, strengthen network resilience and reduce the cost of connecting homes, businesses and public institutions. The identified infrastructure gaps will be addressed through a competitive Multi-Round Reverse Auction (MRRA) process to mobilise private capital.
Data cited by Tanui from the Communications Authority of Kenya’s April–June 2026 report showed that the country recorded 88 million mobile subscriptions, 54.9 million mobile broadband subscriptions and 54 million mobile money subscriptions during the period.
Fixed internet connections reached 2.84 million by June 2026, representing a 32.4% increase, while fibre connections rose 29.7% to 1.57 million. Kenya’s submarine cables and cross-border links provide approximately 28.95 terabits per second (Tbps) of international bandwidth, supporting services such as cloud computing, digital trade, business process outsourcing and innovation.
Tanui also highlighted private and public sector contributions to the country’s fibre infrastructure expansion since 2022. According to his statement, private operators added 24,000 kilometres of fibre, while the public sector added another 17,000 kilometres.
The government’s longer-term ambition is to expand fixed broadband connections to more than eight million, extending connectivity to underserved areas and supporting wider participation in the digital economy. The planned infrastructure is expected to improve access to digital education, online employment, entrepreneurship, business markets and public services.
The initiative is being implemented with support from the ICT Authority, the World Bank and other partners. By combining public funding with private investment, Kenya aims to strengthen its national digital backbone and expand reliable broadband access across the country.
