- Kenya has opened talks with China’s Guodong Network Communication Group on potential digital infrastructure investments. - Discussions covered broadband expansion, connectivity, smart cities and digital services. - Kenya wants foreign capital and expertise to support fiber networks and extend high-speed internet access. Kenya has opened talks with China’s Guodong Network Communication Group on potential investments in digital infrastructure, part of efforts to mobilize capital and expertise for the expansion of connectivity and the country’s digital economy. John Tanui, Principal Secretary in the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, met a delegation from the Chinese telecommunications infrastructure group on August 13. The discussions explored potential cooperation in connectivity, digital infrastructure, smart cities and the digital economy. The talks focused in particular on expanding broadband access to underserved areas. Tanui said better connectivity remains a priority to enable more Kenyans to participate in the digital economy. As of June 2025, 4G coverage had reached 97.3% of the population, compared with about 30% for 5G. Smart-city development was another area discussed. Nairobi wants to build on progress at Konza Technopolis, the country’s flagship smart-city project, to expand digital services and improve access to public services. The government also plans to continue the digitalization of public administration so that citizens can complete more procedures online. The discussions come as Kenya works to strengthen the infrastructure needed to support the growth of its digital economy. The country has prioritized the expansion of fiber-optic networks, broader high-speed internet coverage and infrastructure capable of supporting new digital services. At the same time, authorities want to attract foreign capital and expertise to accelerate these projects. Guodong has experience in telecommunications infrastructure development. The Chinese group says it operates more than 55,000 telecommunications towers and has activities spanning networks, digital infrastructure and data centers. The company