Strengthening Regional Partnerships for a Digitally Connected East Africa

Regional partnerships remain at the heart of advancing ICT growth and driving Kenya’s digital transformation agenda.

On 8th September 2025,  Principal Secretary Steve Isaboke, EBS, paid a courtesy call on Dr. Caroline Karugu, Principal Secretary at the East African Community (EAC). The discussions focused on ongoing and emerging ICT initiatives, with a special emphasis on cross-border fibre connectivity.

Some of the key collaborations we reviewed include:

Northern Corridor Integration Projects – expanding cross-border ICT backbones, improving roaming frameworks, and strengthening regional cybersecurity.

Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project – connecting Kenya with Ethiopia and Somalia, with the goal of reaching more than 3.2 million underserved residents.

Kenya–Tanzania Terrestrial Fibre Link – boosting network resilience and enabling smart border operations.

Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) – working to harmonize policies, infrastructure, data governance, and digital markets across the EAC and IGAD.

We also addressed challenges such as regulatory barriers, high roaming costs, fragmented payment systems, and the urgent need for stronger joint cybersecurity frameworks.

These conversations reaffirm our commitment to deepening cooperation with the East African Community. By harmonizing policies and expanding regional digital infrastructure, we aim to unlock e-commerce, grow digital trade, and accelerate integration for shared prosperity across East Africa.