The Safaricom Dealer Association has cautioned the Kenyan government against selling a 15 percent stake in Safaricom to Vodacom Group, fearing it could undermine Safaricom's dealer-based distribution model. The government plans to sell 6 billion shares at Sh34 per share, raising approximately Sh204.3 billion.

• The proposed sale involves 15 percent of Safaricom's stake to Vodacom Group for about Sh204.3 billion.
• The Safaricom Dealer Association is concerned about potential changes to Safaricom's shared prosperity model, contrasting it with Vodacom's more centralised approach in other markets.
• Dealers warned of possible management changes, reviews of existing contracts, and job losses, urging the government to safeguard agreements and ensure dealer representation.

The National Treasury faces scrutiny over its plan to sell a 15 percent stake in Safaricom Plc to Vodafone Kenya via a direct sale, bypassing competitive bidding. The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) questions whether this approach ensures optimal value for taxpayers.

• The proposed valuation for the stake is Sh204.3 billion, based on a Sh34 per share price.
• ICPAK representative Sandeep Maina challenged the direct sale, arguing it limits price discovery.
• The Treasury defended the single-bidder strategy, citing concerns about lower offers from competitive bidding, market saturation if sold on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, and lack of operational expertise from private equity investors.

Airtel Kenya is advocating for significant regulatory reforms in the telecommunication sector, particularly concerning call termination charges, arguing that changes in Safaricom's ownership alone will not foster adequate competition. This comes as the National Treasury defends its plan to sell a 15 percent stake in Safaricom to Vodafone Kenya through a single-bidder process, a move questioned by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).

• Airtel is pushing for lowered Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs) to near-zero levels to reduce operational costs and enable cheaper voice tariffs for consumers.
• ICPAK questioned the National Treasury's decision to sell its 15 percent stake in Safaricom for approximately US$1.6 billion (Sh204.3 billion) through a single-bidder process to Vodafone Kenya, specifically challenging the Sh34-per-share valuation.
• The Treasury defended the single-bidder approach, citing it as a safeguard against valuation risk and ruling out an open tender or public offer due to potential market strains and the need for a "continuity premium" for Vodafone Kenya.