Safaricom Users: Kenyans to Pay More For SMS and Calls

Kenyans have this morning been left foaming at the mouth after learning that they will have to pay more to make calls and send messages.

The increase has been prompted by the recent passage and signing of the Financial Act of 2021, where the excise duty was amended from 15% to 20%.

Safaricom sent a communication on Wednesday, July 7, announcing that they amended their prices to comply with the new tax.

The statement read in part: “Following the government’s move to excise duty on Airtime and telephone services to 20% from 15 effectively July 1, 2021, we have reviewed our product and services to reflect our change.”

The changes will affect voice data and SMS and integrated plans.

Also affected are roaming and international calling and SMS rates, Fibre to the home (FTTH) and fibre to the business (FTTB) plans have also been affected.

Although data bundles prices remained unchanged (No-expiry bundles, weekly bundles, monthly bundles and Ginga bundles), also affected are Karibupost paid and call Corporate postpaid product, Zidisha plus, cloud, Collocation and loT.