Businesses and households in Nairobi may soon have to look for alternative internet sources as the county government begins a major crackdown on unauthorized fibre optic cables.
On Tuesday, February 25, Nairobi County officials launched an operation to remove fibre optic cables that had been installed on power poles along major highways.
This move is part of Governor Johnson Sakaja’s broader plan to increase the county’s revenue collection, a strategy that has also led to an ongoing dispute with Kenya Power, the country’s main electricity distributor.
Internet Providers on the Spot
Speaking during the launch of the crackdown, Nairobi County Revenue Chief Officer Tiras Njoroge revealed that some of the fibre optic cables had been installed illegally. He explained that internet service providers (ISPs) had been given sufficient time to pay for using the power poles but had failed to do so.
“Some of these fibre lines are illegal. We have given the affected service providers ample time to pay for hosting them on these poles, but they have refused. They have neither paid for wayleaves nor sought county approval,” Njoroge stated.
He emphasized that all internet providers must ensure their fibre installations on county road reserves comply with the necessary approvals and that they have cleared all wayleave fees.
Impact on Homes and Businesses
The crackdown is expected to cause disruptions for homes and businesses in Nairobi, especially in an era where internet connectivity is essential for day-to-day operations, communication, and service delivery.
Under the Nairobi City County Finance Act, 2023, any installation of power lines or fibre optic cables on road reserves must be subjected to wayleave charges. These charges apply to utility companies and internet service providers that set up infrastructure on public land.
Breakdown of Wayleave Fees
The cost of obtaining a wayleave permit varies depending on the distance:
- 1 to 2 kilometers: Application fee of Ksh5,200
- 2 to 5 kilometers: Application fee of Ksh6,500
- Beyond 5 kilometers: An additional charge of Ksh6,500 per kilometer
Besides the application fees, service providers must also pay annual charges based on the type of land features they use:
- Carriageways: Ksh200 per meter annually
- Footpaths: Ksh150 per meter annually
- Verges: Ksh60 per meter annually for those within 1.5 meters of the plot boundary and Ksh150 per meter for verges beyond that distance
Not the First Crackdown on Internet Cables
This is not the first time authorities have targeted fibre optic cables. In October 2019, Kenya Power issued a 14-day ultimatum to unlicensed telecommunication companies, demanding that they remove any illegally mounted fibre cables from electricity poles. The company cited safety risks and legal violations as the reasons behind the directive.
With the current crackdown, internet providers operating in Nairobi may have to either comply with county regulations or risk losing their infrastructure, a situation that could disrupt connectivity for thousands of users.
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