Smart Homes Are No Longer a Future Concept in Africa

By Donghun Lee For Africa, the idea of the “smart home” has long been framed as a distant aspiration. This is with most predictions tying this transition to high-income households and advanced infrastructure that is yet to arrive on the continent. However, that perception no longer reflects reality because smart living is rapidly becoming a necessity across the continent, driven by the practical needs for efficiency and convenience. Consumers in Africa are seeking technologies that respond to fluctuating energy supply and electricity costs as well as water scarcity and the need for durable appliances that can withstand varied operating conditions. This broader shift is already visible in rapidly urbanizing markets such as Kenya, where evolving housing developments and changing consumer expectations are accelerating the adoption of connected living solutions. Modern housing developments are integrating infrastructure that creates fertile ground for connected living solutions. Middle-income households in estates such as Syokimau, Ruaka and Ruiru are also adopting connected appliances that optimize energy consumption and enable remote monitoring for reduced long-term maintenance costs. As a result, consumer data shows that smart home appliance penetration in Kenya is expected to grow from approximately 2.8 per cent of households in 2025 to 5.8 per cent by 2029, representing more than 830,000 homes adopting connected technologies. This growth, though modest at first glance, reflects the early phase of a structural transition similar to those seen with mobile money or smartphones, where gradual adoption was followed by acceleration once value became widely understood. Much of this momentum is being shaped by practical, everyday concerns, particularly around energy use, which are making smart technologies increasingly essential for households Energy management is perhaps the clearest example of how smart technologies align with local priorities. Approximately 75 per cent of Kenyans now have access to electricity, with urban connectivity exceeding 90 per cent, following the country’s commitment to renewable energy, including geothermal and wind power, which has created a relatively green electricity mix. However, households remain sensitive to cost fluctuations and outages, driving the need for smart appliances that adjust power consumption based on usage patterns, ultimately empowering consumers to manage energy more effectively. Similarly, durability and adaptability are critical considerations often overlooked in global conversations about smart living. By and large, African environments demand products that can handle voltage fluctuations and the varying climatic conditions including the high humidity of the coastal regions and the extreme heat of arid areas. The smart technology introduced into the region must, therefore, be engineered with resilience as its foundation. Indeed, a connected washing machine or refrigerator is only valuable if it performs consistently under local conditions and provides meaningful alerts or diagnostics that reduce downtime and repair costs. Africa’s rapidly expanding digital ecosystem is also playing a pivotal role in accelerating smart home adoption. Smartphone penetration in Kenya is estimated at over 72.6 percent and mobile internet usage continues to rise, making connected living increasingly accessible to a broader segment of the population. The widespread use of smartphones has enabled greater integration of connected appliances. And as digital infrastructure deepens, supported by expanding 4G coverage, growing fiber networks, and the rollout of 5G in key urban centers, smart homes are becoming less reliant on complex physical infrastructure and more aligned with the region’s mobile-first reality, where connectivity is driven primarily through handheld devices and cloud-based platforms. There is also a broader economic dimension to consider in the form of Africa’s expanding middle class, which is increasingly focused on value over upfront cost. Consumers are evaluating appliances based on lifecycle efficiency rather than purchase price alone. An energy-efficient refrigerator that reduces monthly electricity bills or an air conditioning system that adjusts automatically to occupancy patterns can deliver tangible financial benefits over time. Critically, the growth of smart living in Africa challenges technology providers to rethink design and distribution. Solutions must be scalable across diverse income segments and adaptable to different infrastructure contexts. This requires collaboration with local developers, energy providers and policymakers to ensure that innovation aligns with real market conditions. At the same time, the narrative around smart homes must evolve because quite too often, discussions have focused on affluent consumers in advanced markets, overlooking how emerging economies can leapfrog traditional adoption curves. Africa has repeatedly demonstrated its capacity to bypass legacy systems, as seen with mobile banking and digital payments. Smart home technology is following a similar trajectory, where consumer ingenuity is accelerating adoption in unexpected ways. The opportunity now remains to recognize that the African smart home will look different from its European or Asian counterparts. It will be shaped by local priorities, and technologies that enhance everyday life in ways that are relevant and economically meaningful. (The writer is the President of LG Electronics East Africa)