In a move that underscores East Africa region’s growing drive towards shared infrastructure and digital transformation, Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) hosted a high-level delegation from the Burundi Backbone System (BBS) for a benchmarking and knowledge exchange session.
The visit aimed at strengthening regional collaboration in energy and broadband connectivity, reflecting the spirit of integration envisioned under the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) and African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The engagement was coordinated under the leadership of Dr Lawrence Kimando, General Manager – Strategy, Research and Compliance, whose team spearheaded the benchmarking session focusing on KETRACO’s successful fibre-leasing model — an initiative that demonstrates how power utilities can diversify revenue while advancing digital inclusion.
KETRACO was also represented in the meeting by Business Development Manager Sarah Mugo, Manager Systems and Technology Arnold Ndukuyu, Manager Quality Assurance and Risk Management Grace Ndegwa, Senior Business Development Officer Anthony Wamalwa, and technical personnel from the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) division — Eng. Kennedy Njoroge and Robert Kiogora. Bandwidth & Cloud Services was represented by John Orutwa (Head of Engineering) and Mary Kahura (Legal Department).
Through Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) technology, KETRACO integrates fibre optic cables into its high-voltage transmission infrastructure, providing secure communication channels and leveraging excess capacity for broadband connectivity.
Since obtaining a Network Facility Provider Tier 2 (NFPT2) licence from the Communications Authority of Kenya in 2014, KETRACO has leased fibre capacity to leading operators such as Safaricom Limited, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Bandwidth and Cloud Services, Jamii Telecommunication Limited, Airtel Networks Kenya Limited, SEACOM Kenya Limited and Kenya Education Network, turning its transmission infrastructure into a strategic asset for Kenya’s digital economy.
KETRACO is also a key partner in the Digital Superhighway project which aims to expand fibre optic connections across Kenya, linking schools, hospitals, markets, and other public facilities to enable digital access.
The Burundi Backbone System, a state-owned wholesale broadband provider, sought to learn from KETRACO’s experience in blending energy and ICT infrastructure to enhance efficiency and sustainability. The visit also opened discussions on potential collaboration between KETRACO and REGIDESO, Burundi’s national electricity and water utility, to support future cross-border energy projects.
“Regional integration in energy and connectivity is central to our mandate,” said Dr Kimando, adding that “By sharing our model and experiences, we contribute to building stronger, more interconnected economies across East and Central Africa.”
Kimando said that KETRACO’s fibre infrastructure is designed to serve both the power and communication sectors efficiently.
“Our colocation points, whether at substations or along transmission towers, are strategically determined based on access, availability of power, and customer needs. This integrated approach not only optimises our existing assets but also strengthens regional digital connectivity and power trade. Partnerships like the one with the Burundi Backbone System demonstrate how shared infrastructure can drive Africa’s integration and collective growth,” said Dr Kimando.
The engagement highlights KETRACO’s growing role as a regional leader in infrastructure innovation, power trade, and energy diplomacy. By leveraging its technical capacity and strategic partnerships, the company continues to position Kenya as a hub for regional connectivity and sustainable growth.
KETRACO is in the process of introducing consultancy services. The company will be offering its specialised knowledge and capabilities in energy infrastructure projects and enterprise support within Kenya and across Africa and beyond.
KETRACO will provide consultancy services in areas such as Transmission System Planning, Feasibility Studies, Engineering Design and Supervision, Preparation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Plans and Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), Enterprise Support in areas such as Human Capital Management, Finance, Contract Management, Technical Audit & Assurance, ICT, Quality Management, Risk Management, and Strategic Planning for electricity transmission infrastructure, as well as advisory support for Public-Private Partnerships.
