Airtel Kenya is intensifying its efforts to capture a larger share of the mobile money market, targeting the 21.1% of the population that remains unbanked. The telco has introduced a series of strategic initiatives to make financial transactions more accessible and affordable, particularly for low-income and unbanked individuals.
One of Airtel’s most significant moves has been maintaining a free Airtel-to-Airtel transaction policy, ensuring cost-effective money transfers within its network. Additionally, customers using Airtel Paybill services will receive a cashback on transaction fees in the form of airtime, while those withdrawing money from agents will have their withdrawal fees refunded as airtime.
Airtel Money CEO Ann Kinuthia Otieno emphasized that affordability should be a priority in financial transactions. “It doesn’t mean that transactions in this country must be so high for us to make money,” she stated. She further explained that while Paybill and withdrawal services come with charges, Airtel’s strategy ensures that customers receive value through airtime refunds, making financial services more accessible.
Airtel Kenya CEO Ashish Malhotra reinforced the company’s commitment to giving customers an alternative in the mobile money space. “Nobody is new to mobile money in this country. Kenya has a well-established mobile money ecosystem. For me, it’s about giving customers a chance to experience value,” he remarked. The telco has been a vocal advocate for mobile money interoperability, pushing for an inclusive financial ecosystem that allows seamless transactions across different providers.
Airtel Kenya has significantly expanded its network, boasting over 2 million merchant outlets nationwide. The company claims that 93 to 93.5% of the country is now covered by the Airtel network, a major improvement over the past two and a half years. Malhotra assured customers that Airtel is continuously investing in network expansion, with further rollouts planned in the coming year.
In addition to mobile money services, Airtel Kenya has introduced new data and voice packages aimed at budget-conscious consumers. The telco now offers 30GB of data for Ksh 1,000, with an option to roll over unused data upon renewal. Customers also receive 400 free Airtel-to-Airtel minutes and 2,000 SMS to all networks, further enhancing affordability and value.
With these moves, Airtel Kenya is positioning itself as a strong competitor in the mobile money space, offering affordable and accessible financial solutions to millions of Kenyans while expanding its footprint nationwide.
