Safaricom
Kenya's dominant mobile operator and home of M-PESA.
Safaricom at a glance
Safaricom is a telecom website and one of the most visited sites in Kenya, currently ranked #4 in the country. It was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Today Safaricom is owned by Safaricom PLC. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 16 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through mobile voice and data, m-pesa transaction fees, enterprise connectivity. Its closest rivals include airtel.co.ke, telkom.co.ke.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 15 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 15.5 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 16 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 17 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct60%
- Organic search28%
- Paid search6%
- Referral4%
- Social2%
Audience & demographics
- Men52%
- Women48%
- Age 25-3428%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5423%
The audience is concentrated in Kenya, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Kenya86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 4.8 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- Kenya
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| safaricom | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| mobile plans | Top 10 | High | — |
| bill payment | Top 10 | High | — |
| internet packages | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Kenya web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 80% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading telecom apps in Kenya
Company information
- Website
- safaricom.co.ke
- Sector
- Telecom
- Owner
- Safaricom PLC
- Owner type
- Public company (NSE: SCOM)
- Founded
- 1997
- Headquarters
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Employees
- 5,000+
- Ownership
- Safaricom PLC controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Languages
- English, Swahili
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- Not publicly disclosed
- Ownership
- Public company (NSE: SCOM)
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Safaricom operates a telecom operator focused on Kenya. Kenya's dominant mobile operator and home of M-PESA. Revenue comes mainly from mobile voice and data, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Mobile voice and data
- M-PESA transaction fees
- Enterprise connectivity
- Fixed broadband
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- Kenya
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Kenya)
- #4 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading telecom site in Kenya
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| airtel.co.ke | ≈ 9.6 million / month | #5 class competitor | — |
| telkom.co.ke | ≈ 7.2 million / month | #6 class competitor | — |
What is Safaricom?
Safaricom (safaricom.co.ke) is a telecom operator serving users in Kenya. Kenya's dominant mobile operator and home of M-PESA. It ranks #4 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the telecom category.
Who owns Safaricom?
The site is operated by Safaricom PLC. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. It employs around 5,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Safaricom at roughly 16 million visits per month, about 0.5 million per day. Around 80% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.4 pages per visit with an average session of 6 min.
How Safaricom makes money
Revenue comes primarily from mobile voice and data, alongside m-pesa transaction fees, enterprise connectivity, fixed broadband.
Competitors in Kenya
Its closest rivals include airtel.co.ke, telkom.co.ke.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1997
Safaricom is founded in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Growth phase
Expands its telecom offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #4 among the most visited websites in Kenya.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Self-service billing and plan management
- Nationwide network coverage
- Bundled mobile, internet and TV offers
- Digital top-up and support channels
Cons
- Contract terms and early-exit fees
- Support queues at peak times
- Pricing complexity across bundles
- Coverage gaps in rural areas
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Safaricom?
Safaricom is operated by Safaricom PLC. Public company (NSE: SCOM) structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Safaricom headquartered?
Safaricom is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
When was Safaricom founded?
Safaricom was founded in 1997.
How many employees does Safaricom have?
Safaricom employs approximately 5,000+ people.
What is Safaricom's revenue?
Safaricom does not publish standalone revenue; income comes from mobile voice and data, m-pesa transaction fees, enterprise connectivity, fixed broadband.
Who are Safaricom's competitors?
Main competitors in Kenya include airtel.co.ke, telkom.co.ke.
How does Safaricom make money?
Mainly mobile voice and data, m-pesa transaction fees, enterprise connectivity, fixed broadband.
Is Safaricom publicly traded?
Safaricom's ownership: Public company (NSE: SCOM).
How many visitors does Safaricom get?
Third-party estimates place Safaricom at roughly 16 million visits per month, mostly from Kenya, with 80% mobile traffic.
Is Safaricom safe?
Safaricom is an established telecom site founded in 1997 and ranked #4 in Kenya; use the official domain safaricom.co.ke and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementssafaricom.co.ke
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageKenya and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos