As internet infrastructure deepens across Kenya’s urban and peri-urban regions, the concept of the connected home is beginning to move from novelty to norm.
Recent efforts by Safaricom to pair fibre, 4G, and 5G with consumer technology brands point to a shift in how connectivity is being positioned, not just as a service, but as a foundation for how households function.
At a recent edition of the M-PESA Sokoni Festival, held at the Coast, a range of smart devices were put on display, from app-linked appliances to remote-operated security systems, demonstrating how internet access is reshaping daily routines.
While such integrations have been standard in more digitally mature markets, Kenya’s increasing broadband reach is now bringing these solutions into middle-income homes.
Safaricom’s partnerships with global electronics manufacturers, such as LG, reflect a wider trend in telco strategy: bundling internet with value-added ecosystems that go beyond entertainment or communication.
From kitchen appliances to backup power systems, these connected tools are gradually introducing users to a new level of control, automation, and monitoring, all tied back to their mobile devices.
The showcase served less as a marketing activation and more as a testbed for customer adoption, allowing visitors to interact directly with the technologies underpinned by Safaricom’s network.
For telcos, events like Sokoni offer a glimpse into what the next wave of broadband usage could look like.
Anchored less in content consumption and more in embedded, ambient connectivity that links appliances, homes, and everyday decision-making.
The success of this model will depend not only on affordability and coverage, but also on ease of use and interoperability across devices.
But with 5G rollout accelerating and fibre coverage extending across key population centres, the infrastructure is beginning to support this evolution.
As digital habits mature, and as hardware partnerships deepen, Kenya may find itself moving faster toward a fully connected domestic environment than previously expected.
