NAIROBI, Kenya- M-Pesa’s dominance in Kenya’s mobile money market has shown signs of strain as rival Airtel Money eats into its market share.
Latest data from the Communications Authority (CA) reveals that M-Pesa’s market share, though still dominant, slipped to 90.8 percent as of March 2025.
This is compared to 94.9 percent a year ago.
Meanwhile, Airtel Money is steadily closing in with its market share rising to 9.1%, up from 5.1% over the same period.
The growth reflects a broader push by Airtel to become more competitive investing in better customer experiences and expanding its agent network.
The shift comes at a time when more Kenyans are embracing mobile money.
The total number of mobile money subscriptions grew by 7.3% to hit 45.4 million.
That’s a clear signal of just how vital these platforms have become in the daily lives of individuals and businesses alike.
“The mobile money market continues to evolve, offering users more flexibility and improved digital financial solutions,”read the report in part.
With over 76 million active SIM subscriptions in the country, the digital finance space is only expected to grow.
While M-Pesa remains a dominant player, Airtel’s subtle rise hints at a more competitive and potentially more innovative future for mobile money in Kenya.
