Kenya Secures €102 Million EU Funding to Supercharge Digital Transformation

By Africa.com
June 12, 2026

Kenya has secured a major €102 million (approximately KSh 15.3 billion) funding package from the European Union under the EU-Kenya Digital Partnership. The announcement, welcomed by President William Ruto, represents a significant boost to the country’s ongoing efforts to expand digital connectivity, foster innovation, and create economic opportunities for its youthful population.

The funding will support a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening Kenya’s position as East Africa’s leading digital hub and one of the world’s top Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) destinations. Key focus areas include expanding high-speed internet access, particularly in underserved regions, and enhancing digital infrastructure to support both public and private sector digitalisation.

In addition to the core €102 million package, the EU has also committed €37 million toward the extension of the Blue Raman submarine cable, which will connect Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania. This infrastructure upgrade is expected to increase international bandwidth capacity, reduce costs, and improve the reliability of internet services across the region.

President Ruto highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership during recent engagements with EU officials. “This support will accelerate our digital transformation agenda, expand connectivity, and open new doors for our youth and businesses,” he stated.

Beyond connectivity, the EU package includes targeted support for the digitalisation of land registration systems, expansion of the national fibre-optic network into aerial and underserved areas, and the strengthening of Kenya’s Digital Transformation Centre. These interventions are designed to improve governance efficiency, attract investment, and create an enabling environment for digital trade and innovation, including artificial intelligence applications.

Kenya’s digital economy has been one of the brightest spots in the region, with a thriving fintech sector, widespread mobile money adoption, and a growing startup ecosystem. The new EU support is expected to build on these strengths while addressing remaining gaps in infrastructure and skills.

Read more…