By Dawan Africa - Admin
Kenya, September 18, 2026 - Kenya’s mobile money subscriptions rose to more than 54 million by the end of June 2026, underlining how deeply digital payments have become part of daily life.
The increase came even as the country lost more than 34,000 registered mobile money agents in just three months.
New figures from the Communications Authority of Kenya show that mobile money subscriptions reached 54,005,800 in the quarter ended June 30, up from 53,368,939 in the January to March period.
This means mobile money subscriptions grew by 1.2 per cent during the quarter. The regulator said the number was also 13.2 per cent higher than a year earlier.
Mobile money penetration rose to 101.3 per cent from 100.1 per cent in the previous quarter. The rate is above 100 per cent because the figures count subscriptions, not individual people. Many Kenyans have more than one SIM card or mobile money account.
At the same time, the number of registered mobile money agents dropped from 602,470 in the first quarter of 2026 to 568,463 in the April to June period.
That was a 5.6 per cent fall, or 34,007 fewer agents.
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Agents remain important in Kenya because they help customers deposit and withdraw cash, send money and access other services. A fall in their numbers could make it harder for some people, especially those in areas with fewer banks and ATMs, to access cash services close to home.
But the decline may also point to changes in how people are using mobile money. More customers are paying for goods, bills and services straight from their phones instead of withdrawing cash first. Mobile banking apps, merchant payments, online shopping and direct transfers may also be reducing the need for frequent cash transactions at agent shops.
The report also showed growing demand for internet services. Mobile data subscriptions increased to 64.26 million from 62.63 million in the previous quarter, while mobile broadband subscriptions rose to 54.93 million from 52.85 million.
Smartphone numbers also increased to 52.26 million from 50.18 million, showing that more Kenyans are using internet-enabled devices.
The figures show a country moving further into digital payments and online services. However, the drop in agent numbers raises fresh questions about whether agent businesses are still making enough money and whether cash services will remain easily available for customers who depend on them.