Safaricom Slashes Mobile Data Bundles, Leaving Customers Paying More for Less

Kenya’s largest telecom operator, Safaricom, has quietly cut the data allocation in several of its most popular mobile bundles by more than 50%, effectively doubling the cost per megabyte for subscribers. The reductions were implemented over the weekend without prior warning or official communication.

The hardest hit were the “No Expiry” bundles, which previously allowed users to enjoy data with full flexibility. Under the new allocations, a KES 51 bundle now provides just 102MB, down from 255MB. The KES 100 bundle has been halved to 200MB from 400MB, while the KES 250 plan dropped from 1GB to 500MB.

Subscribers quickly took to social media to voice frustration over the unexpected reductions. Safaricom responded vaguely on X, stating they were “aware of the issue affecting the awarding of data bundles” and that a resolution was in progress. Efforts to clarify whether the cuts were intentional or a technical glitch received no response from the company.

For Kenyan consumers already grappling with inflation and rising living costs, the timing of the data reductions adds further strain. Many users only discovered the changes when purchasing bundles and realizing they were receiving half the data they had previously enjoyed.

With a commanding 62.8% share of Kenya’s mobile broadband market and over 48 million active subscribers, Safaricom’s decision impacts a significant portion of the country’s internet users.

Other offerings, including the “All-In-One” plans – bundling data, minutes, and SMS – and hourly packages, remained unaffected at the time of publishing.