17 June 2025

The Kenyan government has begun deploying 940km of fibre optic cable to bolster the country’s digital infrastructure, with financial backing from the World Bank.

This fibre optic network is part of the Horn of Africa Corridor Development Project (HoAGDP). It will serve the counties of Isiolo, Meru, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera, which border Ethiopia and Somalia. The project entails laying 740km of fibre along the Isiolo-Mandera corridor, complemented by an additional 200km in urban areas and for connecting public institutions.

The government’s broader goal is to deploy 100,000km of fibre optic cable nationwide by 2032, aiming to provide broadband access across the country. The network is expected to connect approximately 40,000 schools and other educational institutions, 20,000 government facilities, and 13,000 healthcare centers. It will also serve homes, businesses, and rural communities. In April 2023, the World Bank approved a $390 million loan to fund the first phase of the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project, which includes the fibre optic rollout.

The Kenyan authorities see this investment as a way to reach underserved and unserved populations, reduce the digital divide, strengthen infrastructure support sustainably, enhance business continuity, and promote equity by ensuring disadvantaged groups are included.