Vodacom completes acquisition of controlling stake in Safaricom

Details: Manny Pham; Category: Operators; 30 June 2026; 769 views

Vodacom has completed its acquisition of an effective 20% stake in Safaricom, increasing its holding in Kenya’s largest telecoms operator to 55% and securing controlling ownership of the business.

The transaction follows last week’s decision by Kenya’s Court of Appeal to lift an injunction that had blocked the sale, clearing the way for completion. Bloomberg previously reported that the ruling allowed the government to proceed with the long-delayed disposal of its stake.

Under the completed deal, Vodacom acquired a 15% stake from the Government of Kenya for KES204 billion (€1.36 billion) and a further 5% stake from Vodafone for KES68 billion (€450 million).

The additional 5% was transferred through Vodafone International Holdings B.V., which sold its remaining 12.5% stake in Vodafone Kenya Limited, equivalent to an effective 5% interest in Safaricom.

The transaction means Safaricom will now be fully consolidated in the financial results of both Vodacom and Vodafone, giving the companies controlling ownership of one of Africa’s largest telecoms and mobile financial services providers.

The acquisition marks the end of a lengthy legal process after Kenya’s High Court temporarily halted the government’s planned stake sale following legal challenges. The Court of Appeal subsequently overturned the injunction, allowing the transaction to close.