CFAO Mobility Kenya has unveiled three new Suzuki models in Kenya—Super Carry, Eeco and Across—targeting buyers seeking lower upfront and running costs, the company said in a press statement dated June 25, 2026.

The distributor said the new vehicles are intended to serve both individuals and small businesses, citing demand in a “value-driven” automotive market where buyers are increasingly cost-conscious. The launch was attended by, among others, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director General Nashon Kondiwa, according to photo captions shared with the statement.

The move comes as Kenyan motorists continue to weigh vehicle affordability against operating expenses such as fuel and maintenance, while small enterprises—particularly in delivery and transport—look for practical vehicles that can handle urban congestion and frequent use.

Arvinder Reel, Managing Director of CFAO Mobility Kenya, said the company is responding to shifting purchasing priorities. “Kenya’s automotive market is increasingly value-driven, with buyers being cost-conscious and seeking vehicles that offer better value, are reliable, practical, and cost-efficient over time,” Reel said. “The Suzuki models are designed to make car ownership more attainable with the models reflecting the brand’s strong commitment to cost-conscious consumers and first-time buyers.”

Reel added that the company is placing emphasis on broader access and safety. “By prioritizing safety, reliability, and accessibility, Suzuki by CFAO Mobility Kenya continues to promote inclusive mobility solutions that address the diverse transportation needs of Kenyans,” he said.

According to the press statement, the Suzuki Super Carry is positioned as a light-duty pickup for small businesses and last-mile logistics. CFAO Mobility Kenya said the model has a 30-litre fuel tank and a payload capacity of up to 730kg, with a two-seat single-cab layout aimed at commercial use.

The Suzuki Eeco, described as a multi-purpose van, is intended for both family and business applications. The company said it can carry up to seven passengers and has a payload capacity of 615kg, alongside a 32-litre fuel tank. CFAO Mobility Kenya said the model is designed for passenger transport and deliveries in urban settings.

For buyers seeking a higher-seating SUV, CFAO Mobility Kenya introduced the Suzuki Across, which it said comes with all-wheel-drive capability and a 45-litre fuel tank. The company said the SUV is powered by a 1.5-litre engine and includes safety features such as six airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), Dual Sensor Brake support and hill assist.

In the Kenyan market, new model introductions by formal distributors are often weighed against the country’s sizable second-hand import segment, where price remains a key determinant. CFAO Mobility Kenya’s strategy—centred on running costs, durability and aftersales coverage—signals a bid to compete not only on product features but also on ownership experience, a factor that can influence fleet and SME purchasing decisions.

CFAO Mobility Kenya said the new Suzuki models will be supported by its aftersales and service footprint, which it described as “over 43 branches, dealerships, and authorised service centres” nationwide.

Further details such as recommended retail prices, financing options and availability timelines were not included in the statement. Industry observers will watch whether the models gain traction among SMEs in delivery, transport and trade, where reliability, service access and cost of ownership can shape vehicle choice.

Kenyan filmmaker Likarion Wainaina will premiere his new psychological thriller, Anam’s Wake, at Prestige Cinema on 31 July 2026, with additional screenings scheduled from 1–2 August 2026, according to a press release dated 24 June 2026.

The film is written and directed by Wainaina and produced by Wanjiru Njoroge, with cinematography by Enos Olik, the statement said. The cast includes Marima Wanjiru (as Anam), Sam Omondi, Peter Kawa (as Mason Ebale), Vanessa Okeyo (as Amani Ebale), Ruth Apondi (as Aunt Kavata), Pras Jadi (as Kwame Ebale), Gathoni Mutua (as Zuri Ebale) and Brenda Ngeso (as Nyawira).

The release positions the film within a growing pipeline of locally made features seeking theatrical audiences in Kenya, where premium cinema venues in Nairobi have increasingly served as launch pads for domestic films alongside international titles. The planned multi-day screening window also reflects a distribution approach that relies on concentrated opening weekends to build word-of-mouth and media attention.

Anam’s Wake is set against the backdrop of African mourning rituals and traditions. The story follows Anam, described in the press release as a professional mourner trained to summon Death and negotiate the passage of souls. While she guides others through loss, she remains emotionally numb after her mother’s death 16 years earlier. The film’s plot centres on Anam’s first solo ritual at the Ebale family home, where a wake “spirals into a chilling ordeal” as family secrets surface and Anam confronts unresolved grief, according to the release.

Wainaina said the project drew from personal experiences of grief. “Anam’s Wake was born from my own journey through grief. After attending numerous burials in early 2024, I became fascinated by the way sorrow often stays hidden, only to return with overwhelming force later,” he said in the statement. He added: “This film explores that terrifying truth, that unprocessed grief waits in the shadows, ready to consume us.”

Producer Wanjiru Njoroge said she was drawn to the cultural grounding and thematic focus of the script. “Anam’s Wake is the kind of film I entered this industry to make—deeply rooted in African culture yet universal in its themes,” she said. Njoroge added that the story explores “grief, family secrets, identity and a young woman navigating the tension between tradition and her own path,” and pointed to its reliance on subtext: “What drew me to the project was its trust in silence and the emotional weight carried in what remains unsaid.”

For Kenya’s creative economy, new theatrical releases can have knock-on effects for jobs across production, post-production, marketing and exhibition, while also strengthening the case for local content investment and wider distribution partnerships. The press release also notes the film drew on “extensive cultural consultation and local knowledge,” positioning authenticity and cultural representation as a core production consideration.

Wainaina is best known for directing Supa Modo, which premiered at the 2018 Berlin International Film Festival and was selected as Kenya’s submission to the 91st Academy Awards, according to the release. The statement also describes him as co-founder of Kibanda Pictures and credits him with directing multiple Kenyan television productions.

Next milestones will likely include further details on screening times, ticketing and any wider rollout beyond the initial Prestige Cinema dates, as well as additional marketing materials such as trailers and press-kit assets referenced in the release.

Kenya’s mobile money subscriptions rose by about two million in the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, pushing total subscriptions to 53.4 million, according to sector statistics released by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) covering January to March 2026.

The CA statistics show mobile money subscriptions increased from 51.4 million in the previous quarter to 53.4 million, representing quarterly growth of 3.9%. The figures point to continued expansion of digital financial services as mobile money remains a major channel for payments and transfers in the economy.

Agent network growth outpaced subscription growth during the quarter. The number of registered mobile money agents increased from 501,399 to 602,470, a rise of 20.2% or about 101,000 new agents, according to the CA.

The Q3 data matters for Kenya’s business landscape because mobile money agents act as the primary cash-in and cash-out infrastructure for households, informal businesses and micro-enterprises. A growing agent footprint typically supports transaction volumes, improves service availability beyond major towns, and can lower operational friction for small merchants that rely on daily liquidity.

The CA data also shows market concentration remains high. “Safaricom remains the market leader in the mobile money market, accounting for 89.1% of mobile money subscriptions,” the report said.

In the same update, the narrative around platform capacity and usage was linked to Safaricom’s recent technology upgrades. “The company’s continued investment in converged digital solutions has been supported by the M-PESA Fintech 2.0 platform upgrade, which has significantly enhanced system capacity,” the report said, adding that the upgrade is intended to support higher transaction volumes and enable additional digital financial products.

According to figures cited in the release, Safaricom’s Kenya ecosystem processed “approximately 46.41 billion transactions valued at KSh 41.68 trillion” in FY26. The report also said transaction volumes continue to be driven by frequent, low-value transfers. “During FY26, Safaricom facilitated approximately 17.1 billion Kadogo transactions, accounting for 36.8% of total M-PESA transaction volumes,” it said.

Beyond transfers and payments, the CA update pointed to growing consumer uptake of mobile-linked investment and insurance products within the M-PESA ecosystem. As of 15 June 2026, the report said Ziidi Trader had recorded “approximately 688,000 opt-ins and over 103,000 active traders,” facilitating “533,000 trades involving 171 million shares and a traded value of approximately KSh 1.9 billion.”

In savings and investment, the report described Ziidi MMF as the most mature product, with “approximately 7.7 million opt-ins,” “2.42 million active investing subscribers,” and assets under management of “approximately KSh 19.8 billion.” For a Shariah-compliant option, it said Ziidi Shariah had “approximately 836,000 opt-ins,” more than “102,000 investing subscribers” and assets under management of “approximately KSh 154 million.”

On insurance, the report said Tuunza had “approximately 759,000 opt-ins,” with “87,000 customers purchasing cover,” covering more than “205,000 lives” through over “7,100 active policies.”

At the lower end of savings products, it reported Ziidi Pochi had “approximately 1.46 million opt-ins,” nearly “196,000 active saving users,” and assets under management of “approximately KSh 318 million.” It also said Ziidi Biashara had recorded “approximately 25,000 opt-ins.”

For Kenya’s financial services and capital markets, the continued expansion of mobile money into savings, investment and insurance points to deeper competition for customer deposits and investment flows, while also widening access for first-time investors and informal earners who typically transact in small amounts.

The next milestones will be reflected in subsequent CA quarterly sector statistics, which are expected to show whether subscription gains sustain and whether agent growth translates into higher activity, as mobile money providers expand product offerings beyond payments.

Nigerian singer-songwriter Yemi Alade has released a new single, “Don’t Be Shy”, featuring Kenyan artist Bien-Aimé, according to a statement issued by her label, Effyzzie Music, and distributed by Anyiko PR. The release marks the first single from Alade’s upcoming self-titled album, “IT’S YEMI ALADE”, which is scheduled to drop later this year.

The track was produced by Nigerian producer De Yaso alongside Kenyan producer Kobby Worldwide, the statement said, positioning the song as a cross-border collaboration between Nigerian and Kenyan music talent. The release also adds to a growing list of joint projects between West and East African artists, as streaming platforms and touring circuits continue to reward regional partnerships that can scale beyond home markets.

For Kenya’s music business, Bien’s appearance on a high-profile West African release reflects the continued export push by Kenyan acts seeking wider African and global audiences. Bien has built a solo catalogue following his career with Kenyan band Sauti Sol, and has increasingly featured on collaborations that target multi-market listenership across Africa and the diaspora.

In remarks included in the press release, Alade said the collaboration came together easily. “I have always loved the soulfulness of Bien’s music and working with him on this record was so easy,” Yemi Alade said. She added that the track focuses on “emotion and connection” and that in the song “we are both being playful, confident and honest, in expressing feelings when you’re into someone.”

Bien said the session benefited from creative alignment from the outset. “Working with Yemi was an incredible experience because the energy felt natural from the beginning,” Bien-Aimé said in the statement. He described the song as “about confidence, chemistry and enjoying the moment,” adding: “We want you to just feel good and loosen up when this song comes on.”

The release builds on earlier creative links between Alade and the Sauti Sol camp. The press release cited their past work, including Alade and Sauti Sol’s collaboration “Africa”, as well as subsequent cross-interpretations, including a Swahili version of Alade’s “Nagode” and Alade’s take on Bien’s “All My Enemies Are Suffering,” which her team said was included on the song’s Remix EP.

While the statement did not disclose commercial terms, marketing budgets, or projected streaming targets, such collaborations can influence revenue flows across publishing, master recordings, and performance rights, particularly as African music consumption increasingly shifts to digital platforms. For Kenyan stakeholders—artists, producers, managers and labels—high-visibility features can also translate into higher booking fees, brand interest, and additional licensing opportunities, although outcomes depend on sustained audience conversion beyond a single release.

Alade’s team also linked the single to her next major milestones, saying the forthcoming album will arrive “ahead of a major showcase in Paris, France.” No specific date for the Paris event was provided in the statement.

Next steps for the project are expected to include additional singles and promotional appearances tied to the album rollout later this year. Effyzzie Music and Anyiko PR did not provide further details on the album’s tracklist, release date, or distribution strategy in the press release.

Mobile money subscriptions in Kenya increased by about two million in the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year (January–March 2026), pushing total subscriptions to 53.4 million, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

The CA’s latest sector statistics show subscriptions rose from 51.4 million in the previous quarter to 53.4 million, representing quarterly growth of 3.9%. The regulator said the increase reflects continued uptake of digital financial services across the country.

Agent networks expanded at a faster pace than subscriber growth during the quarter. Registered mobile money agents rose to 602,470 from 501,399 in the prior quarter, a 20.2% increase equivalent to about 101,000 additional agents, the CA statistics show.

The latest figures underscore the central role mobile money continues to play in Kenya’s payments and financial services landscape, supporting everyday transactions for households and micro and informal businesses. The expansion of agent networks is also significant for cash-in and cash-out availability, particularly in areas where traditional banking coverage is limited.

The CA statistics further indicate that Safaricom remained the largest player in the market, accounting for 89.1% of mobile money subscriptions during the quarter. The report attributes continued scaling of mobile money usage to ongoing investments in technology capacity within the ecosystem.

“Safaricom remains the market leader in the mobile money market, accounting for 89.1% of mobile money subscriptions,” the Communications Authority of Kenya said in its Q3 sector statistics for FY2025/26.

The regulator’s report also references activity levels within Safaricom’s M-PESA platform, stating that in FY26 the Kenya ecosystem processed approximately 46.41 billion transactions valued at KSh 41.68 trillion. The CA report notes that transaction volumes continue to be driven by small-value payments, citing approximately 17.1 billion “Kadogo” transactions in FY26, which it said accounted for 36.8% of total M-PESA transaction volumes.

Beyond payments and transfers, the CA statistics point to continued product expansion into savings, investment and insurance via mobile money-linked offerings. As of 15 June 2026, the CA report said Ziidi Trader recorded about 688,000 opt-ins and more than 103,000 active traders, facilitating about 533,000 trades involving 171 million shares with a traded value of about KSh 1.9 billion.

In money market investing, the CA statistics show Ziidi MMF had about 7.7 million opt-ins, with 2.42 million active investing subscribers and assets under management of about KSh 19.8 billion. The CA also reported that the Shariah-compliant Ziidi Shariah had about 836,000 opt-ins, more than 102,000 investing subscribers and assets under management of about KSh 154 million.

On the insurance side, the regulator said the Tuunza product had about 759,000 opt-ins, with 87,000 customers purchasing cover, covering more than 205,000 lives through over 7,100 active policies.

For smaller-scale savings, Ziidi Pochi had about 1.46 million opt-ins, with nearly 196,000 active saving users and assets under management of about KSh 318 million, the CA report said.

Industry-wide, the CA statistics suggest Kenya’s mobile money market is increasingly evolving from a payments channel into a broader digital finance distribution layer. For Kenya’s banking, insurance and capital markets, this trend may intensify competition on customer acquisition and product distribution, while increasing the importance of partnerships and regulatory oversight around consumer protection, data, and product suitability.

Looking ahead, CA’s subsequent quarterly releases will be watched for whether agent expansion remains elevated and whether growth in savings, investment and insurance activity continues to scale alongside core payments and transfers.

KPC Foundation, the corporate social investment arm of Kenya Pipeline Company PLC (KPC), has expanded its Clean Energy Transition Programme to Mukuru Viwandani, Nairobi, reaching an additional 100 vulnerable households with clean cooking solutions and introducing a parallel fire preparedness component.

In a press release dated June 19, 2026, the Foundation said the Phase 2 rollout in Nairobi follows an earlier Phase 1 intervention in Jomvu Kuu, Mombasa, where 90 households benefited. The Foundation said the latest expansion brings the total number of households reached by the programme to 190.

Under the Mukuru Viwandani phase, each selected household will receive a 6kg liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) starter kit comprising “a gas cylinder, burner, grill, and an initial gas fill,” according to the statement. The Foundation did not disclose the value of the kits or the total budget for the phase.

The programme is being implemented in partnership with Vivo Energy Kenya, which the press release identified as the distributor and marketer of Shell-branded fuels and Afrigas LPG in Kenya. KPC Foundation said the initiative is anchored in its Strategic Plan 2025–2028, which prioritises “scalable, integrated solutions” focused on environmental sustainability, community wellbeing and resilience.

Speaking during the launch, KPC Managing Director and Foundation Chair Pius Mwendwa said the Foundation’s approach is intended to link environmental objectives with practical household needs. “This initiative is a clear demonstration of how we are turning strategy into real impact. We cannot ask communities to protect the environment while they still rely on unsafe and unsustainable energy sources. Through this programme, we are providing practical solutions that improve daily life while advancing environmental conservation,” Mwendwa said.

Mwendwa added that KPC intends to replicate the model beyond Nairobi. “Our goal is to scale this model across communities near KPC operations nationwide—ensuring more families access clean energy, safer homes, and better quality of life. This is how we deliver impact at scale,” he said.

Beyond cooking fuel, the Foundation said the programme addresses fire risks in informal settlements by training residents as first responders. A total of 105 Mukuru Viwandani residents will undergo specialised firefighting training at the Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas to serve as community fire marshals, according to the press release.

KPC Foundation Manager Rachel Gathoni said the initiative aims to combine health, safety and household welfare outcomes. “This programme is about more than changing how people cook. It is about protecting families from harmful smoke, reducing fire risks, and improving the overall quality of life. When communities are given practical alternatives, real and lasting change becomes possible,” Gathoni said.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the initiative highlights growing corporate involvement in clean cooking and community safety programmes, alongside government and donor-led efforts to reduce dependence on charcoal and firewood. The Foundation positioned the programme as supporting its ESG commitments, including reducing indoor air pollution exposure and limiting environmental degradation linked to biomass fuel use. While the press release did not quantify emissions or health impacts, it tied the intervention to Kenya’s climate action agenda and the sustainable development goals.

KPC Foundation said it plans to scale the programme in communities neighbouring KPC operations in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu, signalling broader geographic expansion if partnerships and funding are sustained.

Jubilee Group and the Grand Nairobi Bike Race (GNBR) on June 20, 2026 launched the sixth edition of the Jubilee Live Free Race, with organisers announcing a new venue at Uhuru Gardens and a redesigned route along Nairobi’s Southern Bypass ahead of the September 27, 2026 event.

According to the organisers, the 2026 race is expected to attract more than 5,500 participants, up from 3,387 last year, reflecting what they described as growing interest from cycling clubs, corporate teams, recreational riders and first-time participants.

The event’s main 72km category will also shift to a two-lap format, reducing the number of loops required to complete the distance. Jubilee Group said it will provide title sponsorship of KES 25 million (KES 25 million), up from KES 20 million (KES 20 million) last year.

The Jubilee Live Free Race has become one of a growing number of mass-participation sporting events in Kenya that blend wellness, corporate participation and community initiatives. For Nairobi, the move to a Southern Bypass route signals a continued push by organisers to use major road infrastructure for closed-course sports events, which typically require coordination with traffic authorities and medical providers.

Caroline Ndungu, Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Jubilee Insurance, said the event has expanded beyond competition into a broader cycling platform.

“We have witnessed the evolution of Jubilee Live Free Race into a powerful movement that promotes cycling and community engagement across East Africa,” Ndungu said. She added that the partnership is intended to support “meaningful conversations around investment, healthy living, and overall wellbeing,” according to the press release.

Desmond Momanyi, Grand Nairobi Bike Race Director, linked the event’s growth to changing mobility and lifestyle habits.

“The future of cycling in Kenya is incredibly exciting. What we are seeing today is the foundation of a movement that can transform how people think about sport, wellness and mobility,” Momanyi said. “Cycling is becoming part of how people live, commute and connect, the Jubilee Live Free Race continues to provide a platform that reflects that evolution.”

The organisers said the race will include multiple categories: a 72km main race and team race; a 36km para-cycling and Black Mamba category; a 20km family fun ride; and a 2km kiddies race. They said the structure is designed to allow participation across age groups and ability levels.

On safety and logistics, the organisers said the event will provide on-course support that includes medical response teams, mobile bike repair units, hydration points and full-route marshalling, alongside coordinated traffic management.

The press release also stated that each registered participant will receive outpatient medical cover for race-related injuries as part of the entry package, funded through a KES 50 allocation from the registration fee, with dedicated medical support available throughout the event.

A prize pool of KES 4 million (KES 4 million) will be awarded to winners across competitive categories, organisers said.

Beyond race day, the organisers said the platform supports community initiatives including the provision of prosthetic limbs for children with amputations and “food tower initiatives” in community schools, as well as programmes tied to health and investment solutions.

Registration is open, and organisers expect early uptake as they plan for what they said will be the largest edition to date. Key next steps will include final route logistics, safety planning, and coordination with relevant public agencies ahead of the September event.

Smart Applications International has been recognised at the World HR Conference & Excellence Awards Africa 2026 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for human capital development, talent management and workplace practices, the Nairobi-headquartered health technology firm said in a press release dated June 19, 2026.

The company said the recognition places it among organisations acknowledged for workplace culture and people-development programmes. Smart Applications International also linked the award to its strategy of building teams to support its expansion of healthcare technology services across Africa.

The award matters for Kenya’s business landscape as local technology firms increasingly compete for skilled talent in software, data and product roles while also delivering services in regulated sectors such as healthcare. For companies selling to governments and large institutions, organisational capacity, retention and leadership development have become part of execution risk—especially as digital health projects scale across multiple markets.

Harrison Muiru, Group Managing Director at Smart Applications International, said the company views its workforce as central to performance. “This recognition affirms something we have always believed: that people are our greatest competitive advantage. While technology continues to transform industries, it is people who drive innovation, build relationships, solve complex challenges, and ultimately create impact,” Muiru said in the statement.

Jane Gikonyo, Group Human Resources Director at Smart Applications International, attributed the recognition to company-wide participation in learning and performance initiatives. “This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our people, leaders, and teams across the organisation. Building a high-performance culture requires intentional investment in talent, learning, leadership, and employee experience,” Gikonyo said.

In the press release, Smart Applications International said it has implemented initiatives spanning professional development, succession planning, talent retention, employee engagement and leadership capability-building. The company said these efforts have supported organisational resilience and helped teams adapt to changes in business and technology.

The World HR Conference & Excellence Awards, according to the statement, bring together organisations, human resource practitioners and business leaders from across Africa and beyond to recognise workplace practices, leadership development, organisational culture and people management. Smart Applications International said the recognition comes at a time when employers are placing greater emphasis on attracting and retaining talent to drive innovation and business transformation.

For the Kenyan market, HR and culture awards do not directly change revenue performance, but they can influence employer brand perception in a tight labour market and may support bidding credibility for large-scale projects that require stable delivery teams. This is especially relevant in digital health, where projects typically demand multi-year implementation and ongoing support, combining technical capabilities with frontline training and change management.

Smart Applications International described itself as an ISO-certified healthcare technology company headquartered in Nairobi, delivering digital health, biometric identity and analytics platforms across Africa. The company said it works with governments, healthcare providers, insurers and development organisations to improve service delivery and system efficiency.

Looking ahead, the company said it will remain focused on cultivating a workplace culture that promotes inclusion, innovation and continuous learning as it scales delivery of digital health solutions across the continent.

Kenya’s active mobile subscriptions rose to 84.1 million in the third quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year (January–March 2026), a 7.4% increase from the previous quarter that pushed mobile penetration to 157.7%, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

The CA’s latest sector statistics show Safaricom PLC expanded its lead in the mobile subscriptions market by adding about 5.5 million subscriptions during the quarter, raising its total subscriber base to 57.9 million from 52.4 million. Safaricom’s market share stood at 68.9%.

Airtel Networks Kenya had 23.2 million subscribers, representing 27.6% of the market, the CA data shows. Equitel (Finserve) recorded 1.51 million subscriptions (1.8%), while Jamii Telecommunications (Faiba) had 883,944 subscriptions (1.1%). Telkom Kenya posted a decline, losing 160,464 subscribers during the quarter to end at 584,438 subscriptions, equivalent to 0.7% market share.

The figures offer a snapshot of the competitive dynamics in Kenya’s telecommunications market, where mobile connectivity underpins consumer spending, e-commerce, digital lending, transport and last-mile payments. Multiple SIM ownership and the use of separate lines for data, business and mobile money continue to contribute to penetration levels above 100%.

The regulator attributed the quarterly increase in subscriptions to operator-led efforts and broader market shifts. “The Communications Authority attributed this robust growth primarily to customer win-back campaigns run by operators during the reference period,” the CA statistics report said. The CA also cited “falling device costs, the expansion of high-speed mobile network infrastructure and the growing necessity of mobile-based economic and social services in Kenya.”

The CA data also points to an accelerating shift toward smartphones. Smartphones accounted for 63.7% of total mobile phones connected to networks during the period, according to the regulator, reflecting the rising importance of app-based services and internet-driven consumption.

In mobile broadband, Kenya had 62.6 million subscriptions as of March 31, 2026, the CA said. Safaricom led the segment with a 62.7% share, down from 64.3% in the prior quarter, indicating competitive pressure in data even as the operator retained a clear lead.

In fixed data, Safaricom held a 35.4% market share, followed by Jamii Telecommunications at 19.5%, Wananchi Group at 10.4% and Poa Internet Kenya at 9.7%, according to the CA. Other providers included Ahadi Wireless (9.2%), Vilcom Network (6.0%) and Mawingu Networks (3.7%). Starlink had a 0.9% share in the period covered by the report.

Mobile money remained concentrated around the market leader. The CA said the mobile money sub-segment grew to 53.4 million active subscriptions, with Safaricom holding an 89.1% share.

Usage metrics continued to show dominance by the two largest operators. Domestic voice traffic shares were Safaricom (64.96%) and Airtel (34.88%), with Telkom (0.07%), Equitel (0.05%) and Jamii (0.04%) accounting for the remainder, according to the CA. For SMS traffic, Safaricom accounted for 93.96% while Airtel held 6.01%, with the other operators near zero.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the latest CA numbers underline sustained demand for connectivity and the growing role of smartphones and broadband in consumption patterns. The report also suggests that while Safaricom remains the dominant player across several indicators, shifts in data-market share and continued subscriber gains by rivals will be closely watched for signals of pricing pressure, network investment cycles and new product bundling.

The next market test will come in subsequent CA quarterly updates, which will show whether the subscriber gains—linked by the regulator to win-back campaigns and device affordability—are sustained and whether competition tightens further in mobile broadband and fixed internet.

KCB Bank Kenya and Airtel Money Kenya have signed a partnership that will allow Airtel Money customers to deposit and withdraw cash at more than 22,000 KCB agent outlets across the country, the companies said in a joint press release dated June 18, 2026.

Under the arrangement, Airtel Money users will access the service through KCB’s agency banking network. Customers will be required to present a valid national identification document and have a registered Airtel Money account. Deposits will be free, while “standard withdrawal charges will apply,” according to the press release.

The partnership comes as Kenyan banks and mobile money operators continue to expand access points and push for interoperability across payments and cash-in/cash-out networks—an area regulators and industry players have highlighted as important for financial inclusion and a more competitive digital finance market.

Speaking at the signing, Anne Kinuthia-Otieno, Managing Director of Airtel Money Kenya, said the collaboration is aimed at bringing services closer to customers by leveraging KCB’s physical agent footprint. “By opening access to KCB's extensive agent network, we are bringing Airtel Money services closer to more Kenyans and making it easier for customers to deposit and withdraw money wherever they are,” she said. She added that “partnerships such as this help us expand access to financial services while supporting the country's financial inclusion agenda.”

KCB Bank Kenya Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai said the deal fits into the lender’s approach to partnerships and digital delivery. “What we are doing is recognizing the fact that diverse and interconnected opportunities are still core to the mobile money value proposition,” Kimtai said. She added that “reaching critical mass will require mobile money ecosystems to become more dynamic and productive,” and said KCB is “offering our agency network for more Kenyans to strengthen mobile money ecosystems and help the industry mature fully.”

For KCB, the agreement also reinforces a broader shift toward non-branch service delivery. The bank said in the statement that its non-branch solutions, including agency banking, continue to drive customer convenience and operational efficiency. KCB also linked the partnership to its recent acquisition of Riverbank Solutions, saying the deal helps strengthen its agency banking capabilities by adding “social payments and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions.”

According to the press release, KCB has “deepened its digital channels offerings with 99% of transactions being conducted through non-branch channels.” The companies did not disclose transaction limits, rollout timelines, or expected volumes for the new cash-in/cash-out service.

Market analysts note that agent networks remain central to last-mile financial access in Kenya, particularly for customers who still rely on cash for daily transactions. By allowing Airtel Money customers to transact at KCB agents, the partnership could increase utilisation of agent outlets while reducing friction for customers seeking cash services outside Airtel-branded channels.

In the near term, customers and agents will be watching for operational details such as availability across all KCB agents, system uptime, and the clarity of fees under the “standard withdrawal charges” structure. Any expansion into additional services—such as account-to-wallet transfers, merchant payments integration, or credit and savings products—would likely depend on regulatory approvals and commercial agreements between the parties.