Apple's new iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air have officially launched in Kenya, but their exorbitant price tags are causing significant concerns among consumers. Despite being available through authorized resellers, the local pricing is vastly inflated compared to international markets, sparking debate over smartphone affordability in Kenya.

• The iPhone 17 (256GB) sells for KES 165,000 in Kenya, while the same model costs approximately KES 104,000 ($799) in the US and KES 122,000 in India.
• The top-tier iPhone 17 Pro Max (2TB) is priced at an astonishing KES 380,000 by local retailer iStreet Kenya.
• This significant price disparity, attributed to import duties, taxes, and logistical costs, highlights a long-standing issue of high smartphone prices in Kenya since around 2019.