CA Launches Ambitious KSh. 40b Universal Service Fund Strategy to Boost Digital Inclusion
The Authority today officially launched the Universal Service Fund (USF) Strategy 2023–2027, a transformative blueprint aimed at bridging the country’s digital divide and ensuring inclusive access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
The new strategy lays out an ambitious framework to support the government’s broader digital transformation agenda under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), particularly through the Digital and Creative Economy Pillar.
Speaking at the launch, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors Ms. Mary Mungai, emphasized that access to communication and digital services is not a luxury but a universal right, vital for Kenya’s socio-economic development.
“The USF Strategy reflects our national resolve to ensure no Kenyan, regardless of location, income, age, or ability, is left behind in the digital revolution,” she stated.
Ms. Mungai hailed the Digital Superhighway initiative, which aims to roll out 100,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable, establish 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots, and develop 1,450 ICT hubs—one in every ward across the country. She underscored that the strategy is about more than just infrastructure; it is about equitable access, affordability, innovation, and digital literacy.
CA Director General Mr. David Mugonyi echoed the sentiments, calling the USF “a movement” that has already delivered tangible results since its operationalization in 2014 and the commencement of projects in 2017.
“Through the Fund, we have connected nearly 800,000 people in underserved areas, provided broadband to 886 secondary schools, transformed 56 public libraries into digital resource centers, and enabled remote access to justice by connecting 42 law courts to digital networks,” Mugonyi said.
The Authority also announced plans to deepen digital inclusion by expanding last-mile connectivity through partnerships with Kenya Power, ICT Authority, and Konza Technopolis. Projects include laying 2,500 kilometers of fiber in 19 underserved counties, supporting 47 Centres of Excellence, and building 1,450 ICT hubs nationwide.
Additionally, the USF Strategy will bolster digitization across critical sectors—education, agriculture, justice, and health—ensuring that learning content, farming information, and government services are accessible even in the remotest parts of the country.
Despite significant progress, the Authority acknowledged persistent challenges, including the cost of digital devices, limited digital skills, and connectivity gaps in marginalized regions, indicating that the drawbacks would be addressed through inclusive policymaking, enhanced cyber resilience, and expanded digital skilling, particularly targeting youth, women, and individuals with disabilities.
The Authority called on the private sector, civil society, and development partners to work hand in hand with the government to realize the strategy’s vision.
“The digital future we envision cannot be built by government alone,” said Ms. Mungai. “It requires a collaborative effort to ensure every Kenyan can connect, learn, grow, and thrive in the digital economy.” With the launch of the KSh. 40 billion USF Strategy, Kenya solidifies its commitment to digital equity, aiming to cement its status as Africa’s “Silicon Savannah.”
Hon. James E.O. Ongwae, Chairman of the Universal Service Advisory Council, heralded the strategy as more than just a document. “Today isn’t just a milestone,” he declared. “It’s the dawn of a new era where technology becomes the heartbeat of progress for every Kenyan.”
“Our mission is clear,” Ongwae emphasized. “We must invest in projects that spark real change, transform communities, and deliver true value for every shilling spent.”
With much of the country still underserved in terms of basic digital infrastructure, Ongwae stressed the urgency of the strategy. “The question is not whether we should act, but how we can act—strategically, efficiently, and sustainably.”
Painting a vivid picture of the strategy’s real-world potential, Ongwae described scenarios where a girl in Samburu accesses her first online class, a smallholder farmer in Kwale checks live market prices, and a teacher in Turkana uploads school records online.
“These aren’t distant dreams,” he said. “They are within our grasp.” As Kenya turns this page, the launch of the USF Strategy 2023–2027 signals a renewed national commitment to ensure that digital access and opportunity are not a privilege for the few but a right for all.
The strategy has been developed with broad stakeholder input and is informed by national ICT access gap studies, with technical support from the UK’s Digital Access Programme.