Safaricom PLC has officially surpassed 50 million customers on its Kenyan mobile network, marking a major milestone just months before the company celebrates its 25th anniversary in October 2025. This achievement highlights Safaricom’s steady growth since its launch in 2000, when it began with only 17,000 subscribers.
Now holding a 63.3% share of Kenya’s mobile market, Safaricom remains East Africa’s largest telecommunications provider. In the last financial year alone, the company added 1.7 million new mobile subscribers and 56,000 fixed internet customers.
Safaricom’s contributions go beyond connectivity. In the same financial year, the telco contributed KSh 722 billion to the Kenyan economy and supported over 1.28 million jobs. The company has also played a central role in Kenya’s digital transformation, particularly through innovations like M-PESA, which it launched in 2007. M-PESA has become a global example of financial inclusion, enabling millions of people to access digital financial services.
Speaking about the milestone, Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa said, “This milestone reflects the deep connection we have built with Kenyans over the past two and a half decades. We are honored by the trust of over 50 million customers and are committed to being a force for good as we shape Kenya’s future.”
Safaricom has also led the rollout of major mobile technologies in Kenya, including 3G, 4G, and now 5G networks, along with home and business internet solutions.
Looking beyond Kenya, Safaricom’s expansion into Ethiopia continues to show promise. By July 2025, its Ethiopian subsidiary had already surpassed 10 million customers, underlining the company’s potential for growth in new markets.
Despite these gains, Safaricom faces rising competition. Its market share in mobile services has dropped slightly to 63.3% in 2025, while Airtel Kenya continues to grow, now holding just under 32.2% of the market.
M-PESA, though still dominant, has seen its mobile money market share drop to 90.8% in Q1 2025, continuing a downward trend. Meanwhile, Airtel Money has grown steadily, reaching its highest-ever market share at 9.1%.
Overall, Kenya’s total mobile subscriptions rose to 76.16 million by March 2025, up from 71.38 million in the previous quarter, reflecting the country’s fast-evolving digital landscape.
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