Khalwale urges Safaricom to cut Fuliza, data costs after posting record profits
By David Nthua, November 7, 2025Kakamega County Senator Boniface Khalwale, popularly known as the Bull Fighter, has come forward to speak on behalf of millions of Kenyans who rely on Safaricom as their main telecommunications provider.
Through his X handle on Friday, November 7, 2025, Khalwale wondered how Safaricom managed to make such massive profits at a time when most Kenyans are struggling with the high cost of living.
The senator’s remarks came hours after Safaricom Group Plc announced a record-breaking profit of Ksh42.8B for the half-year ending September 31, 2025, representing a 52 per cent rise from the previous period.
Khalwale’s criticism of Safaricom’s high charges
In a strongly worded statement, Khalwale said the company’s profits were “obscene” and a sign of “profiteering” that takes advantage of ordinary Kenyans who depend on Fuliza, M-Pesa, and mobile data services.
“Kenyans deserve protection from this exploitation! Obscene profits like these are clearly a case of profiteering that can exist only in a black market.
“The cost of data, Fuliza, and M-Pesa must be drastically cut,” Khalwale said.
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He urged regulators and the government to intervene and ensure the telecommunications giant reduces the cost of its financial and data services.
According to him, these costs continue to burden low-income earners who already face economic hardships.
Safaricom’s record profits
Safaricom Group Plc’s strong performance was driven by increased revenues in Kenya and reduced losses in its Ethiopian operations.
Safaricom Kenya generated Ksh194.08B in service revenue, up 9.3 per cent year-on-year, while earnings before interest and taxes grew by 13.1 per cent to Ksh89.5B.
Net income also rose by 22.6 per cent to Ksh58.28B.
The growth was largely fueled by mobile data and M-Pesa transactions, which remain the backbone of the company’s profitability.
Safaricom Ethiopia also recorded significant progress, with service revenue jumping 136 per cent to Ksh6.28B, signalling a growing subscriber base despite ongoing expansion costs.
Overall, the group’s total service revenue hit Ksh199.98B, with earnings before interest and taxes up 54.5 per cent to Ksh65.2B.
Industry analysts described the results as a reflection of Safaricom’s strong fundamentals and strategic foresight, noting that investments in Ethiopia are beginning to yield value.
However, critics like Khalwale insist that such profits must translate into affordability and fairness for consumers.
As of Friday evening, his remarks had sparked wide debate online, with many Kenyans supporting his call for lower costs, while others argued that Safaricom’s success shows the strength of Kenya’s private sector.