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Originally published by Capital Businessbusiness
January 16, 2026
5h ago
Airtel pushes for call rate reforms as Treasury defends single-bidder Safaricom sale
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15 - Airtel Kenya has said the government’s planned partial exit from Safaricom Plc will not, on its own, change competitive dynamics Kenya breaking news | Kenya news today |..
✨ Key Highlights
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.
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