Vodacom has officially completed the acquisition of an additional 20 per cent effective stake in Safaricom, increasing its shareholding to approximately 55 per cent and making it the controlling shareholder of Kenya's largest telecommunications company. 
By Fredrick Kioko,
Vodacom has officially completed the acquisition of an additional 20 per cent effective stake in Safaricom, increasing its shareholding to approximately 55 per cent and making it the controlling shareholder of Kenya's largest telecommunications company.
The transaction, valued at approximately USD 2.1 billion (about KSh272.4 billion or R35 billion), was executed at KSh34 per share.
According to Vodacom, the acquisition includes a 15 per cent stake purchased from the Government of Kenya and an effective additional 5 per cent acquired from Vodafone Group.
Following the completion of the deal, the Government of Kenya's stake in Safaricom has reduced from 35 per cent to 20 per cent, while Vodacom now holds a controlling interest of about 55 per cent.
The company said the transaction was finalized after the Court of Appeal stayed an earlier conservatory order, allowing all remaining conditions precedent to be fulfilled.
As a result of the acquisition, Safaricom will no longer be treated as an associate company in Vodacom's financial statements. Instead, it will become a consolidated subsidiary under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), meaning Safaricom's financial performance will now be fully reflected in Vodacom's consolidated accounts.
Vodacom said it will provide an update on its medium-term strategic targets on July 27, 2026, when it publishes its first-quarter results for the 2027 financial year.
