Kenyan counties with power but little internet, and the other way round
Power and internet use travel together across Kenya. The correlation between the two across all 47 counties is 0.86, which is strong. The exceptions are where the story gets useful, because each one points to a different fix.
Power ahead of internet use
These counties rank much higher on electricity than on internet use: Vihiga (17th on power, 42nd on internet), Kericho (10th on power, 31st on internet), Lamu (12th on power, 27th on internet), Homa Bay (15th on power, 29th on internet) and Nandi (23rd on power, 36th on internet). Electricity is not what holds them back. Devices, data prices, skills and tower coverage are the likelier causes, and the survey data cannot tell me which.
| County | Electricity rank | Internet use rank |
|---|---|---|
| Vihiga | 17th | 42nd |
| Kericho | 10th | 31st |
| Lamu | 12th | 27th |
| Homa Bay | 15th | 29th |
| Nandi | 23rd | 36th |
Internet use ahead of power
These counties run the other way: Taita Taveta (9th on internet, 28th on power), Kilifi (22nd on internet, 36th on power), Kakamega (15th on internet, 27th on power), Tharaka Nithi (18th on internet, 30th on power) and Isiolo (19th on internet, 31st on power). People there get online despite thinner grid access, probably by charging phones away from home or from solar. Better power would raise a ceiling these counties are already pushing against.
| County | Electricity rank | Internet use rank |
|---|---|---|
| Taita Taveta | 28th | 9th |
| Kilifi | 36th | 22nd |
| Kakamega | 27th | 15th |
| Tharaka Nithi | 30th | 18th |
| Isiolo | 31st | 19th |
What the pattern means for planners
A single connectivity target hides two different jobs. In the first group the work is demand: affordable devices, digital skills and coverage. In the second it is supply: connections, mini grids and reliable charging. The composite score blends them, so I read the two ranks side by side before I draw a conclusion about any one county.
A caution on the data
Electricity access comes from the 2019 census and internet use from the 2022 survey, so the two layers are three years apart. A county that connected households after 2019 will look worse on power than it is today. Each full table is in internet use by county and electricity access by county.
Frequently asked questions
Do counties with more electricity have more internet use?
Yes, mostly. Across the 47 counties the correlation between electricity access and internet use is 0.86, where 1.00 would be a perfect match.
Which county has more electricity than internet use would suggest?
Vihiga ranks 17th on electricity access but 42nd on internet use.
Explore the data
Open the interactive map or browse all 47 counties. County data is on the data page.