Safaricom shareholders have approved the largest dividend in the company’s history, with a final payout of KES 1.15 per share for the financial year ending March 31, 2026. This brings the total dividend for the year to KES 2.00 per share, including the interim dividend of KES 0.85 paid earlier in March, amounting to KES 80.13 billion in total distributions.
The dividend increase follows a robust performance in the stock market, where Safaricom’s share price surged by over 50% during the year, lifting the company’s market capitalization to KES 1.10 trillion by March and further rising to KES 1.44 trillion ahead of the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Key details from the AGM include:
- Shareholders on the Register by August 4, 2026, will qualify for the final dividend, which is scheduled for payment around September 4, 2026.
- Over the last five years, total dividends paid to shareholders have reached approximately KES 280 billion.
- Safaricom’s Ethiopian operations are expected to break even in the upcoming financial year, ending a three-year period of flat dividends due to expansion costs and currency challenges.
- Vodacom Group increased its ownership stake to 55% by acquiring an additional 15% from the Government of Kenya, whose holding now stands at 20%, with the public owning 25%.
- Edward Okaro was re-elected to the board, and Ernst & Young reappointed as external auditors.
Group CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa described the past year as a milestone, coinciding with Safaricom’s 25th anniversary and its strongest financial results to date. Looking ahead, the company aims to advance its Vision 2030 strategy by expanding 4G and 5G networks, increasing access to affordable smartphones, integrating artificial intelligence in customer service, and growing its financial services portfolio, including M-PESA.
