Kenya’s leading telecom operator, Safaricom, has posted a 55% jump in half-year profit, driven by strong domestic performance and reduced losses in Ethiopia.
Safaricom reported a group operating profit of KES 65.2 billion ($505.6 million) for the six months ending September 2025, maintaining its full-year guidance amid regional expansion and resilient core operations.
The results, announced by Group CEO Dr Peter Ndegwa, coincide with Safaricom’s 25th anniversary, marking a strategic inflection point driven by AI innovation, Fintech 2.0, and regional expansion.
“From 17,000 subscribers in 2000 to over 60 million across Kenya and Ethiopia, our journey is one of purpose and innovation,” said Dr Ndegwa.
Ethiopia Expansion Shows Signs of Turnaround
Losses from Safaricom’s Ethiopia unit dropped by 59% year-on-year, signalling early recovery in Africa’s second most populous market.
Dr. Ndegwa acknowledged challenges, including currency depreciation and regulatory delays, but emphasised stakeholder engagement and community investment through the newly launched Safaricom Foundation Ethiopia.
| Metric | Sep 2025 (KES Mn) | Sep 2024 (KES Mn) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Revenue | 199,865.2 | 179,923.8 | +11.1% |
| Total Revenue | 204,708.2 | 189,421.9 | +8.1% |
| EBITDA | 101,288.0 | 75,070.7 | +35.0% |
| Operating Profit (EBIT) | 65,213.5 | 42,204.5 | +54.5% |
| Profit After Tax | 29,189.9 | 10,012.1 | +191.5% |
“Ethiopia remains central to our long-term growth strategy,” Safaricom said, citing improved operational efficiencies and market traction.
Kenya Remains the Profit Engine
- Group service revenue rose to KES 199.9 billion, up from KES 179.9 billion in the same period last year.
- M-Pesa revenue climbed to KES 88.1 billion, reflecting continued dominance in mobile financial services.
The company’s Kenyan operations remain its strongest pillar, with steady growth across voice, data, and fintech segments.
