Kenya’s mobile communication landscape is undergoing a major shift, with new data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) showing a surge in mobile voice and data usage, even as the value of mobile money transactions slightly dipped.
According to the KNBS Quarterly Gross Domestic Product report released on Tuesday, the information and communication sector grew by 6.0 percent in the second quarter of 2025. This was a slower pace compared to 6.7 percent growth posted in the same period of 2024.
Surge in Voice and Data Consumption
Domestic mobile voice traffic jumped by 17.3 percent, reaching 29.2 billion minutes in Q2 2025, up from 24.9 billion minutes last year. International mobile calls also recorded strong growth, surging 24.3 percent to 367.5 million minutes.
Meanwhile, mobile broadband consumption continued its steady rise, expanding by 38.4 percent to 620.2 million gigabytes, up from 448.2 million gigabytes in Q2 2024. The figures highlight increased reliance on digital platforms for communication, work, and entertainment.
Dip in Mobile Money Transactions
While calls and data grew, the value of mobile money transactions slightly fell by 1.4 percent, dropping to Ksh2.08 trillion from Ksh2.11 trillion in the same quarter of 2024. Despite the decline, KNBS noted that mobile money remains central to Kenya’s financial ecosystem.
Gender Internet Usage Gap
The KNBS 2023/24 Household Survey revealed persistent gender disparities in internet usage. Men were found to use the internet more than women across all age groups. Among young adults aged 25 to 34 years, 64 percent of men reported internet use compared to 54.5 percent of women. This group recorded the highest overall usage at 59.3 percent.
Outlook
The data points to a country increasingly reliant on mobile connectivity, with communication services outpacing financial transactions in growth. As internet access deepens, addressing the gender gap will be key to inclusive digital participation.
