- Government plans to expand fibre connectivity to reach public institutions, businesses and households across Kenya.
- Young people are being urged to turn digital content creation into sustainable sources of income.
- Elgeyo Marakwet County plans to waive charges for companies laying fibre optic cables to attract investment.
The government is expanding internet connectivity through a planned 44,000 kilometre fibre optic network to improve access to digital services and unlock economic opportunities for Kenyan youth.
ICT Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui said the expansion comprises a 17,000 kilometre fibre project targeting public institutions and an additional 27,000 kilometres expected through government backed private sector investment.
Speaking during a digital sensitisation forum at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Iten, Tanui said improved connectivity would enable young people to participate more effectively in the global digital economy.
“In partnership with the Communications Authority (CA), the ICT Authority (ICTA) and Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), a 17,000 kilometre fibre connection project is currently underway, which will link all public institutions,” he said.
The PS added that the government had injected Ksh13 billion to support private sector development of backbone, middle mile and cross border infrastructure.
He said connecting public institutions, including schools and chiefs’ offices, would provide a foundation for internet service providers to extend connectivity to businesses and households.
“From these hubs, local service providers can pick up the network to link businesses and homes directly, thus ensuring that everyone in the country can access high speed internet,” Tanui said.
The government, he added, had connected two million homes and businesses to fixed broadband infrastructure since 2022.
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Tanui also revealed that 10,000 junior secondary schools had received smart digital interactive devices, with the government targeting all 21,000 schools by April next year.
He said Kenya had also optimised its submarine cable connectivity, positioning the country to serve digital content to audiences across the world.
The PS urged young people to take advantage of the expanding infrastructure by creating and monetising digital content, noting that the global digital content creation market was valued at $500 billion. Africa accounts for $3 billion of the market, while Kenya’s domestic market is estimated at $1 billion, according to Tanui.
“This vast ecosystem spans across photography, animation, gaming and brand ambassadorship, among others,” he said.
He encouraged creators to diversify their income sources by securing corporate branding and public awareness contracts, noting that businesses had established marketing budgets that young people could tap into.
However, he warned that failure to observe platform policies and maintain professional standards could result in permanent account suspensions on platforms such as Meta and TikTok.
He challenged creators to use their online presence to promote positive narratives and highlight development projects, including affordable housing, new markets and critical infrastructure.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich welcomed the government’s digital sensitisation initiative, saying many content creators in the county were yet to turn their online activities into reliable sources of income.
Rotich urged young people to embrace digital entrepreneurship and develop their platforms into sustainable businesses. He also challenged creators across the North Rift region to collaborate, share skills, market local enterprises and work with digital service providers.
To attract further investment in connectivity, the governor said the county government would waive charges for companies laying fibre optic cables.
He argued that the economic opportunities available to young people through improved connectivity and access to the global digital market would outweigh the short term revenue the county could collect from infrastructure levies.
By Kimutai Langat
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