Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has revealed plans by the government to distribute fibre internet to all Kenyan homes.

Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, Chirchir said the move is aimed at helping young people who are engaged in online jobs.

He said every Kenyan who has a Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) electricity meter will be able to get a fibre optic cable connected to their meters.

"We are doing so much in the digital space to connect 100,000KM and that is being done by my ministry on behalf of ICT Authority. Kenya Power hizi line zote mnaona zinatembea hapa juu kuna line moja hapo ambayo ni fibre optic," Chirchir said.

He further noted that the fibre optic cables will be terminated to the 76,000 power transformers across the country so that they can be easily distributed to Kenyan homes.

Chirchir noted that every Kenyan who is connected to electricity will be able to access the fibre optic cables that will be distributed via the Kenya Power lines.

"We want to terminate that cable on every transformer in the country and because we have 76,000 transformers, inamaanisha kwamba the digital space will be at your doorstep. We can actually move hapo mbele kidogo, tukasema let's terminate every transformer with fibre optic cable, ukiwa na stima hapo kwako, hiyo cable inafika hapo nyumbani so that you can push your creative content to the international space," he said.

In 2023, President William Ruto said the government will maximise the country's potential in the digital economy which will include connecting schools, shopping centres and homes to the internet in a digital superhighway plan.

Ruto while speaking during the launch of digital economy programmes by Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) at Kabete Technical Institute, Kikuyu said he has an elaborate plan in place to connect all the 27,000 schools and 8.5 million homes already connected to power to the internet.

He said his administration will also ensure that Kenyans have access to internet-ready gadgets that will give them access to the digital economy.

Ruto said the potential that the digital economy has for the country has already been seen in how government services have moved online and the number of Kenyans who rely on online work.

He cited a 2014 survey that ranked Kenya first in Africa and tenth globally on online work.