The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has published its first-quarter sector statistics report for the FY 2025/26, and Kenya’s mobile landscape continues to grow at a pace that few markets globally can match. Between July and September 2025, mobile (SIM) subscriptions rose to 78.3 million, a 2.1% quarterly jump, pushing national penetration to an astonishing 149.4%.
Key figures:
- Total subscriptions: 78.3 million (+2.1%) .
- Mobile money: Subscriptions grew to 48.6 million, a penetration of 92.8% .
- Market share (subscriptions): Safaricom leads with 65.3%, followed by Airtel at 30.7%. Telkom Kenya trails significantly at 1.1% .
- Market share (mobile money): Safaricom’s M-PESA remains the undisputed king with 89.7% market share, leaving Airtel Money with just 10.3% .
The CA attributes the growth to network expansions and the fact that Kenyans increasingly rely on mobile connectivity for daily life, from communication to commerce to entertainment. Prepaid subscriptions remain dominant at 98% compared to postpaid at just 2%, highlighting how price sensitivity and flexibility continue to shape mobile consumption patterns.
Machine-to-Machine (M2M) connections also recorded notable momentum at 1.86 million, reflecting a 4.1% quarterly rise and 5.6% growth year-over-year, indicating accelerating digital transformation in sectors such as fintech, transport, security, and energy.
But it’s mobile money that continues to define Kenya’s digital economy. Subscriptions climbed to 48.6 million, up from 47.7 million in the previous quarter, representing 92.8% penetration. This finding complements broader insights of the report highlighing Kenya’s rising smartphone penetration, a key enabler for digital payments.
Safaricom remains the elephant in the room, commanding 65.3% of all mobile subscriptions, 62.7% of mobile broadband, and a staggering 89.7% of mobile money subscriptions. Airtel maintains a solid second place while Telkom, Finserve, and JTL continue to serve niche segments.
The report shows a sector still expanding but also subtly shifting. SIM growth is steady, but smartphone-driven services are becoming the real engines of consumer behaviour.
The interplay between subscriptions, mobile money, and mobile broadband creates a picture of a sector where connectivity and finance are inseparable. As you’ll see in our analysis of voice and SMS traffic, usage patterns are also evolving, with traditional services plateauing and data-centric communication taking centre stage.
Kenya’s mobile market is no longer about basic connectivity. It’s an ecosystem where mobile money, high-speed broadband, and smart devices continue to reinforce each other. With nearly 50 million mobile money users and smartphone penetration pushing past 85%, Kenya’s digital future is already here. And the numbers underline that the transition is accelerating.
