Kenya Achieves Milestone in ICT Sector with Second Phase of National Fibre Project

In a significant stride for Kenya’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) landscape, Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi unveiled the much-awaited second phase of the National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI) project in Embu County. This revolutionary phase seeks to bolster communication links across Kenya’s counties and augment the efficiency of government service delivery systems.

With a staggering investment of KES6 billion/₦10,997,521,842.26, this ambitious project aims to simplify governmental processes such as procuring national identity cards, passports, and recording birth and death certificates. Upon completion, the extensive network will span 2,100 kilometres, radiating across all 47 counties of Kenya.

The Kenya ICT Authority elucidated other anticipated benefits of the project, stating, “The project promises to create a plethora of job opportunities for the youth, predominantly those residing in the Embu region. Additionally, it aims to offer high-speed internet connectivity to the National and County Government offices, propelling them towards digitalization.”

The project, managed by Telkom Kenya, sees Huawei leading the infrastructure construction. The project is fueled by funds from the Kenyan government coupled with a loan from the Chinese government. The extensive infrastructure, as of now, connects 29 counties of Kenya. The project trajectory points towards full implementation by the end of 2015.

Throwing light on the 2012 loan agreement signing ceremony, China’s Vice-Minister for Commerce, Chen Jian, assured the effective execution of the project. He stated, “The project will usher in unprecedented transparency and facilitate e-services accessibility to every Kenyan citizen. We commit to playing an active part in this endeavour till the end.”

BizTech Africa significantly contributed to this report, providing essential insights into the project’s scope and potential impact.

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This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.
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