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Vodacom to Take Control of Safaricom With Additional 20% Stake

The move gives Vodacom control of Safaricom, with closing targeted for early 2026 pending regional approvals.

Overview

  • Vodacom agreed to buy 15% from Kenya’s government for €1.36 billion and 5% from Vodafone for €0.45 billion, valuing the deal at about $2.1 billion.
  • After completion, ownership will be Vodacom 55%, Government of Kenya 20% and public investors 25%, with Safaricom to be fully consolidated by Vodacom and Vodafone.
  • Regulatory clearance is required in Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2026.
  • Kenya’s Treasury framed the sale as unlocking capital without higher taxes or additional debt, while retaining a strategic 20% stake.
  • Vodacom plans to fund the purchase with new debt facilities and says it expects to maintain its dividend policy, citing Safaricom’s telecom scale and M-Pesa’s strength.