Kenyan Court Halts Safaricom–Vodacom Stake Sale Amid Legal Challenge
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Francis Gikonyo, Roselyne Aburili, and Tabitha Ouya also declined to remove Vodafone and Vodacom from the case, ensuring both firms remain part of the legal proceedings.
The Kenyan High Court has upheld orders blocking the proposed sale of a 15% government stake in Safaricom to Vodacom Group , keeping the multi-billion-dollar transaction on hold as constitutional petitions continue.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Francis Gikonyo, Roselyne Aburili, and Tabitha Ouya also declined to remove Vodafone and Vodacom from the case, ensuring both firms remain part of the legal proceedings.
The disputed deal would see Vodacom increase its stake in Safaricom from 40% to 55%, while the Kenyan government reduces its holding from 35% to 20% through the sale of about six billion shares. The transaction, valued at roughly $2.1 billion, also includes a proposed $311 million upfront payment to the state in lieu of future dividends.
Despite approval from Parliament in March 2026 and earlier clearance by regional competition regulators, the sale has faced constitutional challenges over issues including public participation, national interest, and management of state assets.
The court has maintained that these concerns require full hearing, keeping the status quo in place and delaying progress on what is billed as Kenya’s largest privatization deal.
