Kenya's Digital Strategy Aims for 2,500km Fiber Deployment in 19 Regions
Kenya's Digital Transformation Agenda Advances with Fiber Optic Expansion
The Government of Kenya is making significant strides in its Digital Transformation Agenda, with a particular focus on improving digital access in remote and marginalized regions. This was recently highlighted in a report by the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, presented to the Senate Standing Committee on Information, Communication, and Technology.
The session, chaired by Senator Allan Chesang, was prompted by a question from Senator James Lomenen about infrastructure deployment in Turkana County. The report did not provide specific details about the current state of communication infrastructure in these areas, but it did outline plans for a Ksh 5.0 billion project to install 2,500 kilometers of fiber optic cable across 19 marginalized counties.
The project, part of the Government Digital Transformation Agenda (GoDTA), is being overseen by the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, and is being carried out by the ministry itself. The Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), David Mugonyi, and Cabinet Secretary Hon. William Kabogo, led the ministry's delegation. Principal Secretaries Stephen Isaboke and John Tanui were also part of the delegation.
The fiber optic cable installation project has a completion rate of 87.72%, with 2,193 kilometers already approved. Strategic corridors like the Isiolo–Mandera route are being targeted for high-capacity fiber installation to boost digital infrastructure in marginalized regions.
These efforts are not limited to the ongoing nationwide fiber rollout. The Government of Kenya is also implementing a project to install voice infrastructure in 25 wards across Turkana and West Pokot, and in 16 wards in Samburu and Wajir, as reported by the Universal Service Fund (USF), managed by the CA.
In terms of mobile network coverage, Kenya stands at 96.3% for 3G and 4G, and 96.6% for 2G. However, the report emphasized the need to focus on communication infrastructure in high-risk and underserved areas of Kenya.
The fiber optic expansion under the GoDTA is a testament to Kenya's commitment to digital equity. Recently, a 130 km fiber link between Kenya and Tanzania was inaugurated, facilitating cross-border connectivity. This interconnection of different regions is crucial for Kenya's digital future, ensuring that no region is left behind in the pursuit of digital transformation.
The Government of Kenya's Digital Transformation Agenda incorporates data-and-cloud-computing and technology by implementing a Ksh 5.0 billion project to expand fiber optic infrastructure in 19 marginalized counties, a significant part of the project being the Isiolo–Mandera route for high-capacity fiber installation.
The fiber optic cable installation project, under the GoDTA, is also accompanying efforts to install voice infrastructure in select wards across Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu, and Wajir, demonstrating the government's dedication to digital inclusivity and reducing infrastructure gaps in underserved regions.
