The National Government and county administrations are seeking to harmonise charges imposed on telecommunications companies installing fibre optic infrastructure across the country, in a move aimed at lowering connectivity costs and accelerating Kenya’s digital transformation.
The issue took centre stage during the Second ICT Sector Intergovernmental Consultative Forum, which brought together national and county government officials to deliberate on challenges affecting the expansion of digital infrastructure and access to technology.
The meeting, attended by Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo, reviewed progress made in implementing resolutions from the previous forum and identified areas requiring joint intervention by the two levels of government.
A major concern was the varying wayleave fees charged by counties, which industry players have identified as a potential obstacle to the expansion of fibre optic networks.
Wayleave charges are fees paid by telecommunications companies to county governments for permission to install infrastructure along public roads and other designated spaces.
The officials discussed the need for a harmonised framework to eliminate inconsistencies, reduce the cost of deploying infrastructure and encourage greater private sector investment in the telecommunications industry.
They also called for better coordination between county development plans and national ICT infrastructure programmes to ensure that digital connectivity is incorporated into local development priorities.
The forum further examined proposals to recognise communication towers as critical national infrastructure, a move expected to strengthen their protection and improve the reliability of communication networks.
Cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and implementation of the Kenya National Digital Master Plan 2022–2032 also featured prominently in the discussions.
The participants underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration between national and county governments as Kenya expands its digital economy and seeks to improve access to technology driven public services.
The coordination of digital hubs across the country was another key agenda, with the government seeking to ensure that investments in digital facilities translate into meaningful opportunities for communities, particularly young people.
The meeting also reviewed the rollout of the Digital Maturity Index (DMI), an assessment tool developed by the Council of Governors and its partners to measure the extent of digital transformation in counties.
The index is intended to help county governments identify gaps in their digital systems, assess their technological capabilities and determine priority areas for investment.
Assessments have already been completed in Kisumu and Turkana counties, while the exercise is underway in Kitui. Murang’a County is scheduled for assessment in November.
The government and its partners intend to extend the exercise to all 47 counties, with the findings expected to guide county level digital transformation strategies and improve the allocation of resources to ICT projects.
The initiative comes as Kenya seeks to deepen digital inclusion, expand broadband connectivity and strengthen the use of technology in delivering public services.
Kabogo said the discussions provided an opportunity for both levels of government to review previous commitments, agree on practical interventions and strengthen coordination in addressing challenges facing the sector.
He emphasised that the success of the country’s digital transformation agenda would depend on effective collaboration between national and county governments.
The forum was co chaired by Council of Governors ICT Committee chairman and co chair of the intergovernmental forum Wesley Rotich.
Also in attendance were Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy John Tanui, Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Stephen Isaboke, ICT Authority chief executive Jesse Maruti and Konza Technopolis Development Authority chief executive John Paul Okwiri, alongside other senior government officials and industry stakeholders.
The meeting resolved to shift attention towards implementing the agreed recommendations, with the two levels of government expected to strengthen coordination in addressing infrastructure, regulatory and technological challenges.
The push for closer cooperation comes at a time when reliable and affordable digital connectivity is increasingly critical to economic growth, business competitiveness, innovation and access to government services.
For Kenya to fully exploit opportunities in artificial intelligence, digital commerce and the wider technology economy, stakeholders say the country must address the cost of infrastructure deployment while ensuring that connectivity extends beyond major urban centres.
