This year, Safaricom’s e-commerce platform, Masoko, stood out as a game-changer for Black Friday in Kenya. With discounts on premium gadgets like Apple’s MacBooks, iPhones, and Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones, Masoko delivered deals that sparked rare excitement in the Kenyan tech market. For once, Black Friday in Kenya wasn’t just a buzzword — it actually lived up to its promise.
The Kenyan Tech Market: A Landscape in Need of Disruption
The Kenyan market for premium gadgets has long been frustrating for consumers. Companies like Elite Digital, one of the official Apple resellers in Kenya, are known for their overpricing, often failing to even list their prices online due to how high they are. While third-party retailers have filled the gap to some extent, their solutions are far from ideal. These small players often impose significant markups, leaving buyers with no option but to pay heavily inflated prices.
This context makes Safaricom’s deals on Masoko all the more enticing. Shoppers can access authentic Apple products like MacBooks and iPhones at prices that are undercutting even the affordable third-party retailers. This move by Safaricom addresses a long-standing need in Kenya: access to genuine, fairly priced tech gadgets.
Masoko’s Black Friday Deals: A Closer Look
Masoko’s Black Friday wasn’t just hype — it was packed with real, substantial deals. Here are some standout offers:
- Apple MacBook Air (M2 Chip)
- Original Masoko Price: KES 186,350
- Black Friday Price: KES 95,709 (49% off)
- This 13.6-inch MacBook Air, equipped with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD, was arguably one of the best deals on the platform, offering unmatched value for anyone in need of a high-performance laptop.
- Apple MacBook Air (M3 Chip)
- Original Masoko Price: KES 187,570
- Black Friday Price: KES 137,699 (27% off)
- The very new M3 chip variant was also heavily discounted, making cutting-edge tech accessible.
- Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- Original Masoko Price: KES 57,200
- Black Friday Price: KES 28,800 (50% off)
- For audiophiles, this deal was a steal, bringing Sony’s flagship noise-canceling headphones to the Kenyan market at a fraction of the regular cost.
- iPhone 16 (128GB)
- Original Masoko Price: KES 158,340
- Black Friday Price: KES 102,299 (35% off)
- With the latest iPhone model available at competitive pricing, Masoko demonstrated its ability to deliver premium devices at unbeatable prices.
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (512GB)
- Original Masoko Price: KES 241,160
- Black Friday Price: KES 199,999 (17% off)
- For fans of foldable technology, this deal stood out, bringing Samsung’s flagship foldable closer to affordability.
Masoko’s approach to Black Friday was notable because it disrupted the usual practices of e-commerce in Kenya. Many Black Friday deals we often see tend to feel very lacklustre. You see deals on things that aren’t even deals when you shop from other retailers. This has made it such that Kenyans are rarely impressed with deals. The e-commerce space is also quite boring for the tech industry. The recent revamping we’re seeing Masoko undergo allows tech lovers to get items that aren’t available in the market.
While Safaricom has not officially announced Masoko’s revamped direction, it’s clear that the platform has undergone a transformation. It would be helpful for Safaricom to communicate these changes more broadly, as this could attract even more shoppers and establish Masoko as a central player in Kenyan e-commerce.
Conclusion: A Turning Point for Kenyan E-Commerce
Masoko’s Black Friday deals this year are a significant moment for Kenya’s e-commerce landscape. By offering competitive prices on premium tech gadgets, Safaricom is slowly addressing long-standing frustrations with the local market.
This quiet but deliberate shift by Safaricom positions Masoko as a key player in premium tech retail. The platform’s ability to offer fair pricing, genuine products, and robust support is exactly what the Kenyan market needs. While there’s room for Safaricom to market these changes more aggressively, the fact that we’re here talking of their Black Friday offers speaks for itself.
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