Kenya, China Reaffirm Digital Partnership In ICT And Innovation

Kenya and China have reaffirmed their commitment to deeper cooperation in ICT, digital transformation, and innovation following a meeting between William Kabogo Gitau, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy William Kabogo Gitau and Guo Haiyan, China’s Ambassador to Kenya,.

The courtesy call focused on advancing Kenya’s Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy agenda, with both sides emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration to expand connectivity, drive digital inclusion, and create new opportunities for innovation and economic growth.

Kabogo said Kenya values its longstanding relationship with China and remains committed to strengthening cooperation in areas that support the country’s digital transformation ambitions.

While no new agreements were signed, the meeting reinforced a partnership that has played a significant role in shaping Kenya’s digital infrastructure.

Chinese companies have been central to several major ICT projects in Kenya, including the National Optic Fibre Backbone, data centre developments, and smart-city infrastructure at Konza Technopolis. In November 2025, Kabogo also presided over the activation of the eastern segment of the 2Africa submarine cable in Mombasa, one of the world’s largest undersea cable systems connecting Africa to Europe and Asia. China Mobile is among the consortium partners behind the project.

The discussions also aligned with Kenya’s Digital Superhighway agenda, a key pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The programme seeks to expand the national fibre network, establish digital hubs across the country, digitise government services, and support the growth of Kenya’s creative and digital economy.

The meeting forms part of a broader series of engagements between Kenya and China as the two countries continue to deepen economic and technological cooperation. It also comes as Kenya expands digital partnerships with a range of international stakeholders, including the European Union and major U.S. technology companies.

For now, the engagement signals both countries’ intention to maintain and strengthen a partnership that has become a cornerstone of Kenya’s digital transformation journey.