The Kenyan government intends to deploy 52,000 kilometres of fibre, with the private sector expected to contribute an additional 48,000 km.

This is according to Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, permanent secretary of the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy.

The top public sector executive was addressing at a stakeholder engagement meeting hosted by The ICT Authority yesterday as part of the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP), which seeks to accelerate the country's digital economy.

The success of this effort, according to The ICT Authority, is significantly dependent on collaboration with numerous stakeholders, particularly the commercial sector in the ICT industry.

Tanui emphasised that the private sector will be critical to the success of KDEAP by investing in digital infrastructure to boost internet access, encourage innovation, create jobs, and improve digital skills.

To that end, he stated that the government intends to deploy 52,000 kilometres of fibre, with the private sector likely to contribute another 48,000 kilometres.

Dr. Tim Kelly, the World Bank's senior ICT policy specialist, underlined and urged private-sector ICT businesses to join in KDEAP.

He clarified: "The project will increase access to broadband through an expansion of the fiber optic backbone and last mile connectivity to government and learning institutions, as well as along Kenya’s borders, benefiting the regional digital market."

"Infrastructure is dear to us. We are able to do more than what is planned and take the lead in ensuring that all Kenyans have internet connectivity and get government services online, said Dr Fiona Asonga, CEO of the Technology Service Providers Association of Kenya.

Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of the ICT Authority, praised and emphasised the private sector's and other agencies' critical collaborative roles in accelerating projects and attaining the ICT Authority's Digital Master Plan goals.

"We want to develop collaboration that goes beyond infrastructure and systems, to build solutions and run them with the government. Kamanguya added that this will assure reliable internet connectivity in homes and institutions, as well as boost corporate growth for effective service delivery.