The communications regulatory body in Kenya noted substantial growth in the usage of mobile phones within the country.
The CA report for the second quarter of the 2024/25 fiscal year indicates that Kenya’s smartphone market remains robust, reflecting how essential mobile technology has become in everyday activities, with approximately 72 million units circulating.
As noted by CA, the swift adoption of smartphones can be attributed to the extensive growth of mobile broadband networks nationwide, which now covers 97.0 percent of the population.
The governing body further noted that the enhanced accessibility and reduced costs of smartphones, along with a greater requirement for digital service usage, have contributed significantly to the surge in smartphone adoption within the nation.
CA, nonetheless, specified that these statistics reflect the count of mobile phones linked to the networks and must not be conflated with the rate of phone ownership within the nation.
Top mobile phone manufacturers in Kenya
The increasing demand for smartphones has led to a rise in the number of firms vying for supremacy in Kenya’s market.
Based on recent data provided by Statcounter, Samsung dominates Kenya’s mobile market with around 28% of the market share as of early 2025.
The widespread appeal of this major South Korean technology company can be linked to its extensive lineup of products, spanning cost-effective options all the way up to high-end flagship smartphones such as the Galaxy S series, thus appealing to Kenya’s varied customer market.
Tecno, a subsidiary of Transsion Holdings that holds approximately 16.5% of the market share, ranks second. Following close behind is Infinix, another brand owned by Transsion, holding around 8%. Additionally, Itel, yet another brand within the Transsion family, secures a modest but significant portion of the market.
The Chinese technology innovator Xiaomi has similarly gained considerable ground, capturing around 5% of the market share in Kenya. This achievement can be attributed to the brand’s strategic growth in both physical retail outlets and online accessibility within the country.
- Samsung – 27.66%
- Tecno – 16.14%
- Infinix – 8.75%
- OPPO – 8.39%
- HMD Global (Nokia) – 7.74%
- Xiaomi – 5.23%
- Apple – 4.43%
- Itel – 3.41%
- Huawei – 2.48%
- Approximately 15.77% of the market is held by other brands and participants in the market.