Safaricom Secures Broad Supply Deal for Kenya Affordable Housing Infrastructure

Telecommunications provider Safaricom has secured a deal to supply fibre internet infrastructure to the government Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). The agreement extends fixed broadband connectivity to thousands of newly built low-cost units across Kenya.

Details of the agreement emerged through investor disclosures published by parent company Vodacom Group. A company spokesperson confirmed the expansion plan to Business Daily, noting that utility installation will cover multiple state-funded housing sites nationwide.

Initial network civil works commenced at the Mukuru Affordable Housing Project located in Nairobi. Construction teams are equipping all 14,000 residential units with pre-installed internet connections, which will be active before tenants move into the development.

Engineers are integrating fiber optic infrastructure directly into structural designs during active construction phases. Incorporating telecom pathways into physical structures eliminates post-occupancy retrofitting costs, which often burden prospective low-income estate residents.

The installation utilizes a simplified plug-and-play connection architecture rather than conventional fiber deployment methods. Standard installations require complex cable splicing at every terminal point, which increases both total man-hours and capital expenditure for site developers.

Under this deployment model, the network delivers a tokenised broadband service known as Wi-Fi Bamba. The tier charges KSh 800 per month, providing bandwidth speeds reaching 15 Megabits Per Second (Mbps) for up to three connected devices.

Safaricom also intends to introduce flexible payment options for estate residents later in the year. The operator plans to offer hourly, daily, and weekly billing options, which mirror pay-as-you-go mobile data purchasing habits across local communities.

Pre-wiring low-cost housing blocks gives the operator direct utility access to emerging residential developments. It enables the company to secure subscriber bases as soon as housing projects reach practical completion, avoiding post-construction commercial disputes.

The infrastructure deal aligns with broader public sector construction targets established under President Ruto. The national housing policy aims to complete 500,000 affordable units across all 47 counties by June 2029, creating substantial demand for structural services.

Civil engineering teams are advancing site works across several secondary locations beyond the capital. Similar pre-installed utility designs will be applied as new residential towers rise, when structural concrete works are completed on regional developments.

Fixed broadband expansion remains a strategic target for infrastructure builders across East Africa. Kenya holds significant growth potential for home broadband, with industry estimates showing four million households without fixed line internet connectivity.

Competition among internet service providers has intensified across high-density residential estates. Providers including Airtel Kenya have expanded their fiber networks, while established firms like Zuku and Jamii Telecommunications Limited (JTL) maintain active physical infrastructure.

Building telecom utility corridors alongside traditional water and electricity conduits establishes a streamlined construction workflow. Coordinated duct installation minimizes repeated excavation on finished pavements, reducing total project completion delays across urban sites.

The telecommunications provider continues to expand its portfolio of public civil projects. Previous state collaborations include healthcare digitization initiatives and national security communication networks, which require reliable fixed line transmission backbones.

Integrating digital utilities directly into low-cost housing developments creates long-term operational efficiencies for estate managers. Developers can hand over fully serviced housing blocks, while utility providers secure structured service corridors across expanding metropolitan areas.