Kenya’s push to bring more people into the internet economy is getting a boost from local phone manufacturing, and one business leader is helping lead the charge. Joshua Chepkwony, chairman of East Africa Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK), is backing efforts to assemble affordable phones in the country, supporting the expansion of 4G and 5G services. The latest sign of progress came when the venture assembled 700,000 digital units during the financial year ended March 2026, according to figures disclosed by Vodacom Group, the parent company of Safaricom.
The milestone shows how local manufacturing is becoming a key part of Kenya’s online strategy. Mobile operators are investing in faster networks, but affordable handsets are seen as the missing link that will let millions access online education, digital banking, e-commerce, and government services.
EADAK is a joint venture involving Jamii Telecommunications Limited (JTL), Safaricom, and Chinese technology partner TeleOne. It was formed to assemble phones and other digital products locally, cutting reliance on imports while making internet-enabled devices cheaper for Kenyan consumers.
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The assembly plant has an annual production capacity of up to three million units. It produces entry-level 4G phones that retail from about KSh7,499. The firm also assembles educational tablets and biometric tools used by financial service providers.
To improve affordability, customers can buy these phones through financing plans that spread payments over several months, reducing the upfront cost of owning one.
For Chepkwony, this initiative shows the growing role of partnerships between the private sector and government in expanding connected access across Kenya.
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“This assembly plant will support government’s agenda to enhance digital inclusion in the country,” he said. “We have been able to achieve affordability through a collaborative approach that comprises industry partnership and favourable government policies.”
Chepkwony is also the founder of Jamii Telecommunications, whose Faiba brand is one of Kenya’s telecommunications operators. Through its involvement in EADAK, Jamii is moving beyond network infrastructure into device assembly, recognizing that wider phone ownership is essential for increasing internet adoption.
The timing matters.
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Kenya has been expanding its 4G coverage while gradually rolling out 5G services. Yet many consumers still rely on basic mobile phones that cannot access high-speed mobile internet. Industry experts say lowering the cost of handsets will be critical to increasing online access. While network infrastructure has improved considerably, millions of people remain unable to take full advantage of online services because connected devices are still too expensive.
Local assembly offers one way of addressing that challenge. Manufacturing devices within Kenya has the potential to shorten supply chains, create skilled jobs, and support the country’s broader ambitions to strengthen domestic electronics manufacturing. EADAK’s yearly production volume demonstrates that local phone assembly is beginning to scale. Kenya still imports most of its phones, but the factory’s growing output suggests domestic production can play an increasingly important role in meeting future demand.
For the chairman, the achievement is about more than manufacturing numbers. It reflects a broader effort to make connected technology accessible to more households, ensuring that investments in mobile broadband networks are matched by greater access to affordable phones. As Kenya’s online economy continues to expand, business leaders investing in local device assembly are likely to play an important role in connecting more people to the opportunities created by faster and more reliable mobile networks.