Govt sets aside Ksh13B to expand Kenya’s fibre network

The Kenyan government has allocated Ksh13 billion to expand the country's fibre-optic network by at least 27,000 kilometres, with the aim of bringing internet connectivity to more homes, businesses, and public institutions. This investment, announced by Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy John Tanui on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during a pre-bid session in Nairobi, is intended to attract private-sector investment and bolster the national fibre backbone.

Tanui emphasized that the funding would catalyze matching private-sector investment, aiming to deliver 27,000 additional kilometres of backbone, middle-mile, and cross-border fibre infrastructure. The project is part of the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP), a joint effort between the ICT Authority and the World Bank.

This initiative seeks to address connectivity gaps, enhance network resilience, and facilitate private companies to extend services to more households and businesses. A key objective is to expand fixed broadband connections to over eight million, aiming to connect every household with an electricity connection.

According to the Communications Authority of Kenya's sector statistics for April to June 2026, fixed internet subscriptions have risen to approximately 2.84 million, marking a 32.4 per cent increase since June 2025. Fibre connections have grown by 29.7 per cent to about 1.57 million during the same period.

The government plans to allocate public funds competitively through a Multi-Round Reverse Auction (MRRA) to mobilize private capital and optimize the value of public investment. While the investment does not guarantee immediate connectivity for all eligible households, the identified missing links have been vetted with the help of a consultant.

The expansion will cover national backbone, middle-mile, and cross-border links, crucial for internet service providers to transmit data between locations. Tanui highlighted the growth in Kenya's fibre network, noting that the private sector added 24,000 kilometres since 2022, while the public sector added 17,000 kilometres.

By improving access to digital services, the initiative could benefit learners, young people, businesses, and families, fostering digital education, online work, entrepreneurship, and broader market access. The government's international connectivity, boasting approximately 28.95 terabits per second of available international bandwidth via submarine cables and cross-border fibre links, further underscores the significance of this expansion.