As Kenya works to bring more people into the digital economy, one business leader is helping make smartphones more accessible through local manufacturing.

Joshua Chepkwony, chairman of East Africa Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK), is backing a growing effort to assemble affordable smartphones in Kenya, supporting the country’s push to expand access to 4G and 5G services.

The latest sign of that progress came with EADAK assembling 700,000 digital devices during the financial year ended March 2026, according to figures disclosed by Vodacom Group, the parent company of Safaricom.

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The milestone highlights how local manufacturing is becoming an important part of Kenya’s digital transformation strategy. As mobile operators continue investing in faster broadband networks, affordable smartphones are increasingly seen as the missing link that will enable millions of people to 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. The company was established to assemble smartphones and other digital devices locally, reducing reliance on imports while making internet-enabled devices more affordable for Kenyan consumers.

The assembly plant has an annual production capacity of up to three million devices and produces entry-level 4G smartphones that retail from about KSh7,499. The company also assembles educational tablets and biometric devices used by financial service providers.

To further improve affordability, customers can purchase smartphones…