By Mumo Judah, June 22, 2026
East Africa Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK) has recorded a major production milestone after assembling 700,000 locally manufactured digital devices in the financial year ending March 2026, underscoring Kenya’s growing push toward domestic smartphone production and digital inclusion.
Disclosures released through Vodacom Group, Safaricom’s parent company, indicate that the local assembly plant has become a central pillar in the operator’s long-term strategy to transition users away from legacy 2G and 3G networks into higher-capacity 4G and emerging 5G ecosystems. The shift is also aimed at expanding access to affordable smart devices among low-income households.
Vodacom Group highlighted the strategic importance of the facility, noting its expanding production capacity and role in bridging the digital divide.
“With an annual capacity of 3 million units, the facility is central to our digital inclusion strategy, retailing 4G-enabled smartphones for as little as Sh7,499 to empower underserved communities,” the group stated.
The affordability drive is being positioned as a key enabler of mobile internet penetration in rural and urban low-income areas, where device costs have historically remained a barrier to connectivity.
EADAK Chairman Joshua Chepkwony also emphasized the role of collaboration between government and private sector actors in scaling up local manufacturing and ensuring broader access to digital tools.
“This assembly plant will support government’s agenda to enhance digital inclusion in the country. We have been able to achieve affordability through a collaborative approach that comprises industry partnership and favourable government policies,” Chepkwony said.
The joint venture structure brings together Safaricom, Jamii Telkom (Faiba), and Chinese manufacturing partner TeleOne, forming a regional production hub designed to reduce reliance on imported smartphones while strengthening Kenya’s position in the digital economy.
Beyond standard consumer smartphones, the facility has diversified its output to include educational tablets and biometric Know Your Customer (KYC) verification devices used by field agents, expanding its footprint into both education and financial services sectors.
Industry analysts note that the introduction of asset financing models has played a significant role in boosting uptake of locally assembled devices. Through Safaricom-linked financing plans, customers can acquire smartphones and repay in installments as low as Sh20 per day over nine months, lowering entry barriers for first-time smartphone users.
The expansion of local assembly comes amid increasing competition in Kenya’s device financing and manufacturing space. EADAK now operates alongside other major players such as M-KOPA, which has reportedly assembled over 3.2 million devices through its own localized production and financing ecosystem.
As Kenya continues to deepen its digital transformation agenda, EADAK’s performance is being viewed as a key indicator of how local manufacturing, financing innovation, and network modernization are converging to reshape the country’s telecommunications landscape.
