Huawei and Safaricom have announced a strategic partnership to provide a low-cost internet service specifically tailored for residents living in homes built under Kenya’s Affordable Housing Program.
The service, officially rolled out on March 3, 2026, will cost approximately Sh800 per month and includes unlimited data at speeds suitable for streaming, online learning, remote work, telemedicine and everyday internet use. The initiative targets thousands of families who have moved into the government-backed housing units across various counties, many of whom previously had limited or no reliable broadband access due to cost barriers.
Speaking at the launch event held in one of the Nairobi Affordable Housing estates, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa described the partnership as a direct response to the digital divide affecting low-income households. “Access to affordable, reliable internet is no longer a luxury—it is essential for education, health, financial inclusion and job opportunities,” Ndegwa said. “Through this collaboration with Huawei, we are bringing high-quality connectivity to the very communities that need it most, at a price point that fits within the budgets of ordinary Kenyans.”
Huawei Kenya Vice President and Managing Director Richard Liu echoed the sentiment, highlighting the technological backbone of the service. “Huawei has deployed fibre-to-the-home infrastructure and advanced Wi-Fi routers optimised for multi-device households,” Liu stated. “This ensures stable connections even in densely populated estates. The Sh800 price point was carefully calibrated to be sustainable for families while covering the cost of quality service delivery.”
The service is being delivered through Safaricom’s Home Fibre network, which Huawei helped expand into several Affordable Housing developments over the past 18 months. Residents in eligible estates can sign up directly through Safaricom shops, the mySafaricom app or community registration drives organised in partnership with the State Department for Housing and Urban Development. Installation is free for the first 10,000 subscribers, with a one-time activation fee of Sh2,000 waived for the initial rollout phase.
The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development welcomed the initiative as a complementary pillar to the Affordable Housing Program. Principal Secretary Charles Hinga said: “When we build homes, we must also build the digital infrastructure that makes those homes truly livable in the 21st century. This partnership brings online education, e-commerce, job portals and government services directly into these households at an affordable rate.”
Early adopters in the Mukuru kwa Njenga and Pangani estates—two of the first areas to receive the service—have already reported significant improvements in daily life. A mother of three in Mukuru said: “My children can now do their homework online without going to a cyber café. Before this, we were spending Sh200–300 a day on data bundles that finished quickly. Sh800 for unlimited is a game-changer.”
The program is initially limited to estates that have been handed over to beneficiaries under the Affordable Housing Program, with plans to expand to new projects as they are completed. Safaricom and Huawei have committed to maintaining the Sh800 price for at least the first two years, subject to review based on inflation and operational costs.
The partnership also includes digital literacy training for residents, conducted through community workshops and in collaboration with local youth groups. Topics cover online safety, using government e-services, digital job applications and basic cybersecurity—aimed at ensuring the technology delivers maximum benefit to households.
Critics have raised concerns about long-term affordability and sustainability, noting that Sh800 still represents a meaningful portion of monthly income for many low-income families. Consumer rights groups have called for independent monitoring to ensure service quality remains consistent and that the price does not rise sharply after the introductory period.
Safaricom and Huawei have pledged to address these concerns through regular performance audits and community feedback sessions. “We are not just selling internet—we are investing in digital inclusion,” Ndegwa emphasised. “If residents tell us the service is not meeting expectations, we will adjust and improve.”
The initiative is being watched closely as a potential model for public-private collaboration in delivering essential digital infrastructure to underserved populations. If successful, it could be replicated in other Affordable Housing projects and informal settlements across Kenya.
As the first households begin connecting this month, the partnership between Huawei, Safaricom and the Kenyan government is being positioned as a concrete step toward bridging the digital divide and ensuring that the benefits of Kenya’s Affordable Housing Program extend beyond shelter to full participation in the digital economy.
