ICT Authority

What ICT Authority does

ICT Authority is a Kenyan State Corporation established in August 2013 by the merger of Government Information Technology Services (GITS), Directorate of e-Government (DeG), and Kenya ICT Board (KICTB) into a single body under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy. Its mandate is to rationalize and streamline all Government of Kenya ICT functions, including enforcing ICT standards, building and operating secure national ICT infrastructure, supervising electronic communications, and promoting digital literacy, capacity, innovation, and enterprise. It serves Kenyan government Ministries, Departments, Counties, and Agencies (MDAs), public educational institutions, county governments, citizens, and — to a limited extent — private-sector telecom and ICT firms that interconnect with government infrastructure.

The Authority's core technology stack is anchored in three national infrastructure assets: the National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI) and One Government Network (OGN), which together provide 9,000+ km of fiber with 400 Gbps backbone and 100 Gbps sub-backbone capacity, connecting all 47 county headquarters and 1,650 institutions; the Tier-2 Government Data Center (GDC) with disaster recovery and the Konza Data Center for hosting government applications; and a 24/7 Network Operations Centre (NOC). On top of this infrastructure it operates service layers including the e-Citizen portal, Kenya Open Data, National PKI, the Digital Literacy Programme, the Presidential Digital Talent Programme, the WhiteBox innovation program, and the Connected Africa Summit. Enterprise services — network capacity (L2/L3), internet, dark fiber leasing, duct leasing, cross-border connectivity, data center colocation, cloud, managed ICT, security (firewall, IDS/IPS, endpoint, SSL), and systems/website development — are offered to MDAs and private sector clients.

ICT Authority is funded primarily through GoK budgetary appropriations, with a secondary revenue stream from subscription and managed-service fees on enterprise network, data center, and security services provided to MDAs and private-sector clients. Go-to-market is predominantly direct enterprise engagement with government institutions, supplemented by the self-serve e-Citizen portal for citizens and partnership-driven distribution (Huawei, Oracle, KeNIC, World Bank, TTCL) for capacity building, innovation, and cross-border expansion. Most citizen-facing services are free; enterprise pricing is negotiated on inquiry.

Name

ICT Authority

Legal name

ICT Authority

Website

https://icta.go.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ICT Authority is a Kenyan State Corporation that sets ICT standards for and delivers national digital infrastructure — including a 9,000+ km fiber backbone, government data centers, and the e-Citizen portal — to all government Ministries, Departments, Counties, and Agencies, as well as public schools and citizens.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government ICT Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Public Administration (92), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Government Digital Service & eGovernment (Service Delivery, IDs, Portals) (BPAIAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Communications, Transparency & Open Government (BPAIAAAH), Infrastructure Outsourcing (IO) (BPAEAMAB)

Keywords

• Government ICT infrastructure
• National fiber backbone
• E-government services
• Managed ICT services
• Digital literacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Appropriations: ICT Authority is a State Corporation under the Ministry of ICT, Innovation & Youth Affairs, funded through government budgetary allocations and appropriations. Services are provided to government institutions at no direct cost to end users.
2. Enterprise Network Services: Provides network services to government institutions and private sector through the One Government Network, including L2/L3 capacity, internet services, dark fiber leasing, duct leasing, and cross-border connectivity.
3. Data Center Services: Offers data center colocation, server hosting, cloud services, and managed backups for government institutions.
4. Security Services: Provides SSL certification, National PKI, firewall, intrusion detection, endpoint security, and vulnerability assessments for OGN-connected clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ICT Authority is a Kenyan State Corporation that rationalises and streamlines the management of Government of Kenya ICT functions. It owns and operates national ICT infrastructure including the One Government Network (OGN), National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI) spanning 9,000+ km, and a Tier-2 Government Data Center. The Authority delivers managed network, data center, security, systems development, and email services to government institutions, and operates e-government platforms including the e-Citizen Portal and Kenya Open Data.

Product overview

ICT Authority is a State Corporation under Kenya's Ministry of Information Communications and Digital Economy that provides a comprehensive suite of ICT infrastructure and services. The portfolio centers on core infrastructure: the One Government Network (OGN) and National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI) deliver nationwide high-capacity connectivity, while the Government Data Center provides secure hosting with disaster recovery. The Authority operates e-government services including the e-Citizen Portal and Kenya Open Data, runs the Digital Literacy Programme for schools, and manages the Presidential Digital Talent Programme for workforce development. Enterprise services encompass network connectivity, data center colocation, managed ICT, security services (including National PKI), systems development, and government email hosting. Strategic initiatives include the Connected Africa Summit, WhiteBox innovation program, and the National Digital Masterplan 2022-2032.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connected Africa Summit: Annual ICT thought leadership summit hosted by ICT Authority bringing together regional and global ICT industry leaders
• Digital Literacy Programme (DLP)
• NOFBI (National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure)
• Presidential Digital Talent Programme (PDTP)
• WhiteBox
• Smart Academy

Products and services

• One Government Network (OGN) A nationwide fiber optic network providing reliable, high-capacity connectivity reaching all corners of Kenya, supporting both government and private sector clients. Designed to handle 400Gbps on the backbone and 100Gbps on the sub-backbone.
• National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI) Kenya's digital highway providing secure ICT infrastructure for business applications and value-added services, spanning across the country connecting provincial headquarters, county headquarters, and sub-county headquarters with high-capacity fiber.
• Government Data Center (GDC) Tier-2 data center infrastructure ensuring security of government data, applications, and hosting of critical government data with disaster recovery capabilities. Includes a disaster facility and Konza Data Center (KDC) for business continuity.
• Network Services High-speed, reliable connectivity services including L2/L3 Capacity, dedicated internet for government agencies, dark fiber leasing, duct leasing, and cross-border connectivity to neighboring countries including South Sudan and Tanzania.
• Data Center Services Secure, reliable, and scalable data solutions for government institutions including data center colocation, server hosting, cloud services, and managed backups with 99.99% uptime guarantee.
• Managed ICT Services Comprehensive IT infrastructure management delivered by 24/7 Network Operations Center (NOC) and County ICT Officers, including end-user support, remote monitoring, and vendor management.
• Security Services Advanced security solutions for clients connected to the OGN network, including firewall and content filtering, intrusion detection, endpoint security, SSL certificates, National PKI, and vulnerability assessments.
• Systems and Website Development Custom-built solutions for government institutions including official government websites, tailored applications for public service delivery, content management systems, and e-government solutions.
• Email Services Secure email solutions for government institutions hosting official emails under the .go.ke domain, including Microsoft Exchange and Office 365 support, spam/malware protection, and email archiving.
• e-Citizen Portal Web portal providing online access to public services offered by various Government Ministries, enabling easy, convenient and efficient access to government services by citizens.
• Kenya Open Data A portal making public government research accessible for free to the public in reusable formats, providing core government developmental, demographic, statistical, and expenditure data for researchers, policymakers, ICT developers and the general public.
• Public Key Infrastructure National PKI system providing trusted digital certificates and services for secure government communications, supporting e-government services and digital transactions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million learner devices issued to schools
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Kenya Network Information Centre (KeNIC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2024Three-year MoU signed in September 2024 focused on accelerating adoption of ICT standards and promoting use of .ke domains. Includes fostering public trust in government digital initiatives, encouraging use of .go.ke domains, addressing digital governance issues, and enhancing knowledge and skills of public sector employees in ICT. KeNIC will provide training on DNS ecosystem and DNSSEC.
• Huawei Technologies (Kenya) Co. LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership focused on promoting ICT literacy and capacity, ICT infrastructure development, access to devices and the internet, and ICT research, innovation and enterprise development. Collaboration includes internship, mentorship, and training programmes for engineering students; provision of technical infrastructure to academic institutions; and the Huawei Telecom Seeds for the Future programme.
• Oracle Technology Systems LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for promotion of ICT literacy and IT practitioner skills, and innovation and enterprise development. Includes internship, training, and mentoring opportunities; engagement in ICT Industry forums; best practice sharing on e-Government process improvement; innovation programs; and IT skills development initiatives. Implements the Oracle e-Government Capacity Building Programme.
• Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint implementation of the Dar-es-Salaam to Mombasa Terrestrial Fibre Link connecting Kenya's National ICT Broadband Backbone with Tanzania's National Fiber Network. Project coordinated by ICT ministries of both countries, representing bold vision for digitally interconnected East Africa.
• TESPOKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP) stakeholder engagement. TESPOK CEO Dr. Fiona Asonga emphasized infrastructure as a priority and the role of private sector in broadband access expansion.
• Huawei Technologies (Kenya) Co. LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital skills training program launched at Siaya Community Digital Hub, equipping youth with practical knowledge in network infrastructure and data communication systems over a five-day period.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ghana National Information Technology Agency (NITA): Ghana's NITA implements national ICT infrastructure (GARNET), government network services, and e-government platforms — a near-analogue in West Africa to ICTA's NOFBI and e-Citizen mandate.
• South Africa State Information Technology Agency (SITA): South Africa's State IT Agency provides consolidated ICT infrastructure, applications, and managed services to national and provincial government departments — directly comparable to ICT Authority's role of rationalizing government ICT functions and operating shared backbone infrastructure.
• National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) - Nigeria: Nigeria's NITDA regulates IT development, sets standards, and drives digital government transformation — closely aligned with ICT Authority's mandate to enforce ICT standards and promote e-government across the public sector.
• Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) / RISA: Rwanda's regulatory and ICT agency oversees telecommunications, ICT standards, and digital government services — comparable regulatory + digital infrastructure mandate to ICTA, scaled to Rwanda's economy.

Broad incumbents

• Smart Africa Alliance: Pan-African policy and infrastructure alliance that ICTA participates in via the Connected Africa Summit; provides continental digital policy context and convening platform comparable to ICTA's regional positioning.
• Safaricom (Enterprise & Public Sector): Kenya's dominant telecom operator with a public-sector division that competes for enterprise connectivity, cloud, and managed services business — represents the principal private-sector competitor to ICTA's commercial revenue lines.

Regional players

• Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA): Counterpart regulator on the other side of the recently completed Mombasa-Dar es Salaam fiber link — represents both a peer for cross-border collaboration and a counterpart regulator in the East African digital integration narrative.
• Communications Authority of Kenya (CA): Kenya's sister regulator for the ICT sector — sets telecom/broadcasting standards and licenses operators, providing the policy framework within which ICTA operates its infrastructure and e-government services.

Others

• Kenya Network Information Centre (KeNIC): Manager of the .ke domain registry and DNS infrastructure; active 3-year MoU partner with ICTA on .go.ke standards — represents the standards/enablement layer adjacent to ICTA's infrastructure mandate.

Emerging players

• eGovernments Foundation: India-based non-profit that helps governments deploy open-source digital public infrastructure platforms (including e-governance portals) — comparable to ICTA's e-Citizen and Kenya Open Data services, though operating as a technical-assistance provider rather than owner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ICTAuthorityKE
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICTAuthorityKE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kenya-ict-board

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ICT Authority