Kenya’s mobile network operators increased their workforce by 46 percent to 11,660 in the year to June 2026, reversing the previous year’s decline as demand for digital services expands.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) said employment by telco firms rose from 7,988 recorded at the end of June 2025, adding 3,672 positions across the sector during the reporting period.
“As of June 30, 2026, the number of persons employed by MNOs stood at 11,660, up from 7,988 reported in the previous year with a male-to-female ratio of 56:44,” said the CA.
The sharp job growth is a reversal from last year, when the industry’s workforce fell 0.34 percent despite growth in subscriptions and service revenues.
The latest figures point to a changing employment picture in telecommunications, although the regulator’s report does not identify the specific companies, departments or activities responsible for the additional jobs.
The increase in headcount coincides with continued investment in mobile data, digital financial services and network infrastructure, which have expanded the range of services offered by operators.
Kenya’s active mobile subscriptions rose 4.6 percent to 88 million in the year to June, an increase attributed to customer win-back campaigns by operators.
Safaricom’s user base rose to 61.4 million as Airtel’s stood at 23.6 million as of June, with Equitel, Jamii Telecommunications Limited (JTL) and Telkom Kenya enjoying 1.5 million, 937,640 and 545,765 subscribers respectively.
Mobile data consumption has also continued to increase, with broadband usage reaching 933.9 million gigabytes during the quarter to June, a 50.6 percent rise from a similar quarter last year.
The shift towards data-intensive services is increasing demand for network management, customer support and enterprise connectivity, raising the need for additional workforce for the operators.
Despite the increase in jobs, operators face pressure to improve the efficiency of their networks as data consumption rises and competition intensifies across voice, internet and financial services.
The CA reported that total domestic mobile voice traffic increased 13.6 percent to 126.7 billion minutes during the year under review, up from the 111.6 billion minutes recorded in the prior financial year. Mobile money subscriptions also grew 13.2 percent during the year to reach 54.0 million as of June 30, 2026, translating to a penetration rate of 101.3 percent.
These developments have created demand for technical skills in areas such as network operations, cybersecurity, software development, data management, and digital product support.
The growth of 4G and 5G networks is also changing the technical requirements of telecommunications businesses, as operators manage higher traffic volumes and expand services for consumers and enterprises.
The increased use of digital services creates opportunities for employment in areas such as cloud services, fintech integration, customer experience and enterprise technology, with some opportunities extending beyond direct MNO payrolls.
Operators also support employment indirectly through mobile money agents, retailers, distributors, tower contractors, device vendors and technology service providers, whose workforce figures are not included in the MNO employment total.
The government has continued to promote digital inclusion through initiatives targeting internet connectivity, digital skills and access to online services, potentially increasing demand for technology-related workers.
Last month, the CA announced a programme to equip 120,000 Kenyans across 19 counties with digital skills over three years, supported by a Sh100 million investment.
The initiative is intended to improve citizens’ ability to use digital technologies for education, employment, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, as well as government services.
