Connectivity powering technology shifts shaping our digital future

Kenya’s next phase of growth will increasingly depend on reliable digital connectivity. Roads, ports, railways and industrial investments remain essential to development. In today’s economy, however, connectivity deserves to be discussed in the same breath.

It enables people, businesses and institutions to transact, learn, access services, innovate and compete. Connectivity has become the invisible infrastructure behind modern life. According to the Communications Authority (CA) of Kenya’s latest Audience Measurement and Industry Trends Report, the country has an average of 18.8 million internet users.

In the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, internet usage stood at 57 per cent, with usage highest among people aged 15 to 24. AI, automation and advanced digital services will only be as strong as the connectivity that underpins them.

Connected cold storage and market platforms can reduce losses for perishable produce and help farmers reach buyers fast. IoT-enabled fleet tracking is improving visibility, safety and efficiency.

For SMEs, cloud services and cybersecurity are making it easier to digitise operations without heavy upfront infrastructure. Connectivity is helping small businesses sell beyond their immediate neighbourhoods. In financial services, mobile platforms are giving more people access to payments, savings, credit, investment and other tools for building wealth.

According to the CA, average monthly mobile broadband use rose to 15.1GB per subscription, increasing to 53.5GB among 5G users. This growing appetite for data strengthens the case for continued investment in networks that can support cloud computing and attract technology investment.

We see this transition at Safaricom every day. Our vision is to become Africa’s leading purpose-led tech company by 2030, but that ambition is rooted in what customers are asking for: trusted connectivity, secure platforms, cloud capabilities, cybersecurity solutions and technology that helps them grow in a more digital economy.

Meeting these expectations requires investment in expanding coverage, modernising infrastructure, strengthening cybersecurity and preparing networks for technologies that will shape the decade ahead.

Beyond mobile coverage, we also continue to expand fibre as a critical part of Kenya’s digital infrastructure, growing our metro fibre footprint to more than 18,300 kilometres and connecting at least 130,000 homes by the end of the year.

No single institution can deliver this transformation alone. Government, regulators, technology providers, businesses and academia have a role in keeping Kenya’s digital progress inclusive, investment-friendly and anchored in the needs of citizens.

Inclusive connectivity will remain one of the most important enablers of Kenya’s digital future.

The writer is Group Chief Technology Officer, Safaricom Plc