Vihiga residents split over proposed sale of government Safaricom shares

Treasury CS John Mbadi and Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub sign a long-term partnership to sale 15 per cent stake in Safaricom shares to Vodacom in Nairobi, on December 4, 2025. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Residents of Vihiga County have expressed sharply divided opinions over the government’s proposal to sell part of its shareholding in Safaricom PLC to the Vodacom Group during a public participation forum held in Mbale town.

The forum, convened by a joint parliamentary team drawn from the Finance and National Planning Committee and the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee, revealed divided public opinion about the planned sale of 15 percent of the government’s stake in the telecommunications giant.