No More Free Internet: Kenyan Government Considers Charging for Public Wi-Fi
The Kenyan government is weighing the introduction of small user fees for public Wi-Fi access, a move aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the country’s growing but strained digital infrastructure. Despite installing more than 3,000 free public Wi-Fi hotspots across the country in recent years, many of them are now either offline or unreliable due to a lack of consistent funding and maintenance.
Speaking in Nairobi, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo, said the initiative, while ambitious, was not designed with sustainability in mind.
“We need 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots,” Kabogo said. “Right now, about 3,000 are working. Others have stopped because the project did not include a plan to maintain them long term.”
To remedy this, the ministry is exploring a new model that involves charging nominal fees to users — such as five Kenyan shillings per session — which would help cover maintenance costs and simultaneously create employment opportunities for young people trained to manage the services.
“If 20 or 30 people pay five shillings each, that creates employment for a young person who can manage and monitor the service through the ICT Authority,” Kabogo explained.
The proposal is part of a broader digital transformation strategy that includes the aggressive rollout of fibre optic infrastructure across the country. Kenya has set a target of laying 100,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable to support faster internet speeds and broader connectivity. However, as of now, only about 15,000 kilometers have been completed.
Kabogo attributed the lag to high infrastructure costs and bureaucratic challenges. “This infrastructure is expensive—many countries would struggle with this scale,” he noted. “We want to open the space for private companies to join us and invest.”
To that end, the government is seeking public-private partnerships to accelerate the pace of infrastructure development and attract investment into Kenya’s digital economy. One key focus is improving internet access in rural and underserved areas through the establishment of 1,450 digital hubs—one in each constituency—by 2027. These hubs will be developed in conjunction with the Constituency Development Fund and are expected to play a vital role in digital inclusion.
While the idea of charging for public Wi-Fi has sparked debate, digital policy experts say it could be a necessary step if implemented carefully.
“Introducing fees might ensure reliability, but the government needs to make sure that vulnerable groups are not left behind,” said Dr. Annette Mwangi, a Nairobi-based technology analyst. “Free public Wi-Fi has huge social benefits — from supporting education and business to enabling access to essential services.”
Community leaders across Kenya have expressed cautious optimism about the planned expansion and potential charges. Many agree that reliable internet is essential for local development, but they stress the need for transparency and clear communication as the government shifts strategy.
“This is a lifeline for our youth, students, and entrepreneurs,” said a community organizer in Kisumu. “But the government must ensure no one is excluded just because they can’t afford to pay.”
As digital services become increasingly integral to daily life, the stakes for inclusive, reliable, and sustainable internet access are high. For many Kenyans, especially in low-income and remote communities, public Wi-Fi represents a crucial link to education, work, and government services.
The government’s challenge now is to balance affordability with sustainability, ensuring that its digital vision doesn’t unintentionally widen the digital divide. With further consultations and pilot programs expected in the coming months, stakeholders across government, civil society, and the tech industry will be closely watching the next steps.
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No More Free Internet: Kenyan Government Considers Charging for Public Wi-Fi