This archive report was first published on 2 July 2021.
On July 2, 2021, Airtel Kenya implemented a price hike for calls to other networks, increasing the cost to Sh2.78 per minute from Sh2.
The move follows the Finance Act 2020's increase of excise duty on airtime and data from 15% to 20%.
Mobile data and SMS charges remain unchanged.
Airtel subscribers received a text message stating, 'Dear customer, due to an increase in excise duty from 15 percent to 20 percent from July 2, your call rate is now Sh2.78 per minute.'
This change affects customers already facing reduced spending power due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other telcos, Safaricom and Telkom Kenya, have yet to announce price reviews, despite Safaricom's warning that it would increase airtime and Internet charges if the President backed the MPs' proposal to raise excise duty by five percentage points.
