Safaricom Declares Record KSh80.13B Dividend for FY26

In Short

• Safaricom has declared its biggest dividend payout yet, totaling KSh80.13 billion.
• Shareholders approved a final dividend of KSh1.15 per share, taking the full-year dividend to KSh2.00 per share.
• The company says its Ethiopia operation is expected to break even in the current financial year.

What Happened

Safaricom shareholders have approved a record dividend, as the telco reports its strongest financial performance to date. The payout totals KSh80.13 billion for the financial year ended 31 March 2026.

The approved final dividend is KSh1.15 per share. Together with an interim dividend of KSh0.85 paid in March, the total dividend for the year is KSh2.00 per share.

Safaricom maintained its dividend over the past three years while spending heavily to launch and scale operations in Ethiopia. The company also dealt with Ethiopia’s foreign exchange reforms introduced in 2024, which affected how businesses access and move foreign currency.

Management now says the Ethiopia unit is nearing a key milestone. Safaricom expects the business to break even, meaning it should cover its costs and stop pulling down group profits.

The company’s share price rose 50.3% during the financial year, lifting market capitalisation to KSh1.10 trillion by end of March. The report said the value later climbed to about KSh1.44 trillion ahead of the annual general meeting.

The final dividend is expected to be paid on or about 4 September 2026. It will go to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 4 August 2026.

Why It Matters

A bigger Safaricom dividend signals that the group may be moving from a high-investment phase into a cash-generating phase. That matters for investors on the Nairobi Securities Exchange who rely on predictable dividend income.

Ethiopia break-even is also an operational marker. It suggests Safaricom can keep funding network expansion and digital services, including mobile money and broadband, with less pressure on its Kenya cash flows.

Shareholders also approved changes reflecting a new ownership structure after Vodacom increased its stake. That could shape how Safaricom executes its Vision 2030 plan, including wider 4G and 5G coverage and more digital products.