NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya will receive Sh2.3 billion (€15 million) in funding from the European Union (EU) to expand internet access and bridge the digital divide, a move expected to significantly boost connectivity in schools and underserved communities.
The funding, announced on Monday, August 25, in Nairobi by EU Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger, is part of the Africa Broadband Mapping Systems project spearheaded by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The wider initiative covers 11 African countries, including Angola, Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Geiger said the EU private sector is also mobilising an additional €300 million (Sh45.3 billion) to support broadband expansion.
“In Kenya, the EU is connecting 1,000 primary schools with broadband,” she said during the launch.
The project includes extending the subsea blue cable from Djibouti to Tanzania, which is expected to improve regional connectivity and strengthen digital infrastructure across East Africa.
Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Director-General David Mugonyi underscored the urgency of the initiative, noting that only 47.5 per cent of Kenyan households are connected to the internet, with penetration in rural areas dropping to just 26 per cent.
He added that 164 sublocations remain without 3G or 4G coverage.
“There is a need to eliminate this digital divide,” Mugonyi said, adding that CA is collaborating with other government agencies to build a digital superhighway linking schools, health facilities, and other public institutions.
Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke said broadband is no longer a luxury but a driver of development.
“Connectivity is a fundamental catalyst for socio-economic growth, innovation, and prosperity,” he said.
The EU-backed project is expected to accelerate Kenya’s digital transformation, complementing the government’s efforts to expand access to affordable high-speed internet under the Digital Superhighway initiative.
