Kenya has taken a decisive step into the future with the activation of the eastern segment of the China-funded 2Africa submarine cable, a development that promises faster, cheaper, and more resilient internet across East Africa. The launch ceremony in Nairobi brought together senior officials from Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Chinese diplomats, and telecom executives. It was marked as a historic moment for a country positioning itself as a regional digital hub.
Kenyan Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo Gitau described the activation as “one of the most significant connectivity investments ever undertaken on the continent,” affirming that the new link aligns directly with Kenya’s digital super-highway agenda.
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan echoed this sentiment, calling the cable a “new highlight” of both the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. She emphasised that Chinese companies have increasingly supported Africa’s digital backbone through projects ranging from 5G networks to data-center construction.
The activation of the 2Africa segment is not an isolated achievement – it forms part of a broader surge in Sino-Kenyan cooperation. Earlier this year, China and Kenya upgraded their relationship and signed a series of agreements covering science and technology collaboration, vocational training, intelligent transport systems, and infrastructure development. These commitments build on years of partnership under the Digital Silk Road initiative, which has seen Chinese technology companies expand fibre-optic networks, cloud infrastructure, and broadband access across the continent.
International observers note that Africa’s digital landscape has increasingly depended on diversified subsea infrastructure, especially after repeated disruptions from single-route cable breaks. Google and other global operators have stressed the need to treat fibre-optic cables as core national assets – a principle supported by this new activation. By bringing an additional high-capacity landing to East Africa, Kenya not only enhances its domestic digital economy but also strengthens its role as a gateway for regional data flows.
China’s growing footprint in Africa’s digital transformation reflects a deeper strategic alignment. The Roosevelt Group, in its analysis of the Digital Silk Road, highlights China’s investment across fibre networks, mobile-equipment systems, and data centres as foundational to Africa’s emerging digital ecosystem. Kenya, with its strong ICT sector and long-standing ties with China, has become a central node in this evolving partnership.
The launch of the 2Africa subsea link is therefore more than a technical upgrade – it is a symbol of accelerating digital diplomacy. It represents Kenya’s ambition to lead in connectivity, innovation and digital commerce, while reinforcing China’s commitment to long-term technological cooperation on the continent. As the region shifts toward data-driven development, this new cable stands as a critical conduit for opportunity, reliability, and shared progress.
