Top 10 Most Valuable Brands In Kenya

Kenya’s corporate landscape is dominated by a compelling mix of legacy institutions and dynamic digital disruptors. In 2025, Equity Bank, Safaricom, KCB, M‑PESA, Co‑operative Bank, NCBA, Kenya Power, Tusker, I&M Bank, and Kenya Airways stood out as the nation’s top ten most valuable brands according to the Brand Finance Kenya report. Together, these brands not only represent significant economic clout but also play pivotal roles in shaping Kenya’s financial inclusion, digital transformation, infrastructure development, and cultural identity. Below is a list of the Top 10 Most Valuable Brands in Kenya.

1. Equity Bank: Kenya’s Leading Bank and Identity of Inclusion

Founded in 1984 as Equity Building Society, Equity Bank has evolved into East Africa’s largest retail bank. With a brand value of KES 71.3 billion for 2025, it tops the Brand Finance ranking and earned the highest Brand Strength Index score of 90.7/100. This reflects widespread consumer trust, consistent financial performance, and resonant brand identity.

Equity’s annual revenue in recent years has approached KES 41 billion (Q3 2024), while its workforce numbers around 13,100 employees. Over the decades, the bank has expanded regionally—from Uganda to DR Congo and Rwanda—and invested heavily in digital innovations such as Equitel, its mobile virtual network operator launched in 2018. Equity’s mission extends beyond profit: it focuses on empowering underserved populations through microloans, inclusive savings, small business financing, and agent banking. The result is a powerful story of financial inclusion tied to brand growth. The bank has remained among the top 10 most valuable brands in Kenya for many years.

2. Safaricom PLC: From Telecom Giant to Purpose-Led Tech Pioneer

Launched in 1997 and rebranded in 2000, Safaricom has transcended its telecom roots to become Kenya’s most influential technology brand. With a 2025 brand value of KES 58.3 billion, it’s recognised for excellence in environmental sustainability.

In the fiscal year ending March 2025, Safaricom reported record revenue—KES 388.7 billion, marking an 11.2% year-over-year increase, along with KES 69.8 billion in net income. Its Kenyan operations posted KES 95.5 billion in net profit after tax. Proudly employing 6,616–6,663 staff, the company’s workforce supports a broad mission—to become “Africa’s leading purpose‑led tech company” by 2030.

Safaricom bases its success on innovation: it dominates with 66% mobile market share in Kenya, supports 27 million smartphones and 22 million 4G devices, and nurtures over 1.1 million 5G users. Mobile data usage surged to 4.22 GB per user with a 15.2% revenue jump to KES 72.9 billion. Voice and fixed connectivity also climbed, underpinning a fibre network that passed 694,000 homes.

But the true crown jewel remains M‑PESA, the world-famous mobile-money ecosystem: it delivered KES 161.1 billion in revenue in Kenya alone, a 15.1% increase, and now accounts for 44% of service revenue. Beyond transfers, M‑PESA supports credit (Fuliza), savings (M‑Shwari), merchant payments, and wealth services—benefiting over 36 million active users and 1.15 million merchant “Pochi tills”.

Safaricom’s regional expansion includes Ethiopia, where it doubled subscriber numbers to 8.8 million and saw early adoption of M‑PESA with 2.4 million users—but heavy investment and currency pressure led to Ethiopian losses, expected to narrow to KES 23–26 billion in FY2026. Domestically and regionally, Safaricom owns its vision of sustainable, tech-enabled growth that has made it a mainstay in the top 10 most valuable brands in Kenya.

3. Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB): Heritage, Digitisation, Regional Influence

Tracing its origins to 1896 as a branch of the National Bank of India and later Grindlays Bank, KCB became a fully Kenyan-owned entity by 1970 and listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange in 1988. In 2025, it registers a brand value of KES 54.8 billion, buoyed by double-digit growth in 2024. KCB plays a central role in commercial and corporate banking and is a leading driver of digital banking across East Africa.

KCB’s footprint includes Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and a digital-first presence that reflects its strategic pivot. Benefiting from the rise of fintech partnerships, M‑PESA integrations, and branch networks exceeding 200, KCB is an essential pillar of Kenya’s financial infrastructure and remains one of the ever-present brands among the top 10 most valuable brands in Kenya.

4. M‑PESA: The World’s Leading Mobile-Money Innovation

Though technically a product of Safaricom, M‑PESA is treated as a standalone powerhouse with a brand value of KES 30.8 billion in 2025. Launched in 2007, it revolutionised mobile finance: by 2012 it had 17 million Kenyan users, and today it remains the world’s most successful mobile-money service.

Its influence stretches across Kenya and into markets like Tanzania, Mozambique, DRC, Lesotho, Ghana, Egypt, Afghanistan, South Africa, and now Ethiopia. M‑PESA allows users to deposit, withdraw, remit, save, borrow, and pay merchants via mobile, powered by an army of agents and retailers offering access where traditional banks can’t reach.

In FY2022, it generated KES 117 billion in revenue. In FY2025, it contributed KES 161 billion in service revenue purely within Kenya, up 15% year-over-year. M‑PESA is not just a service, it’s Kenya’s financial backbone, enabling everything from bill payments to global commerce.

5. Co‑operative Bank: Community Banking Anchored in Cooperatives

Founded in 1965 to support Kenya’s cooperatives, Co‑operative Bank reached a brand value of KES 26.0 billion in 2025. It focuses on SME, retail, and cooperative clients through a blend of branch services and digital banking. It underpins grassroots economic activity and rural finance, sustained by a reliable network and prudent stewardship that have strengthened its position among the top 10 most valuable brands in Kenya.

6. NCBA Bank: Digital-Native and Youth-Focused

NCBA emerged in 2019 from the merger of NIC and CBA banks, but has roots reaching back to the 1960s of banking. With a 2025 brand value of KES 20.6 billion (up around 44%), NCBA targets younger, tech-savvy segments with digital-first initiatives like KCB‑M‑PESA and M‑Shwari integration. Rapid expansion and innovation make it a formidable banking disruptor.

7. Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC): Countrywide Infra Backbone

Founded in 1922, KPLC now boasts a brand value between KES 15.9–16.6 billion. As the state power utility, it generates and distributes electricity to over 4 million connections, powering Kenya’s homes, industries, and urban growth. Although facing sectoral headwinds, its role in national infrastructure ensures continued brand relevance.

8. Tusker: Kenya’s Iconic Lager and Cultural Symbol

Since 1922, Tusker beer has held a special place in Kenya’s culture. Now owned by East African Breweries PLC, Tusker ranked as Kenya’s fastest-growing brand in 2025, leaping 67% to a valuation of KES 9.6 billion and earning a dominant BSI score of 97.1. Its marketing acumen, consumer loyalty, and social engagement have driven cultural resonance unmatched in FMCG sectors.

9. I&M Bank: Regional Breadth, Digital Momentum

Founded in 1974, I&M Bank registered a brand value of KES 5.6–7.8 billion. Operating in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Mauritius, and the DRC, I&M emphasises innovation, regional financing, and high-end personal banking. Its steady growth continues to bolster its mid-tier brand standing.

10. Kenya Airways: The Flag Carrier on a Recovery Flight

Kenya Airways (“KQ”) took to the skies in 1977. After enduring pandemic disruptions, it returned to profitability, achieving a brand value of about KES 7.0 billion in 2025. As Africa’s “Pride of Africa,” KQ is spearheading Project Kifaru, an ambitious overhaul prioritising route expansion, fleet modernisation, and improved service. Its recovery positions KQ among continental aviation icons.

What They Have Done To Remain Among The Top 10 Most Valuable Brands In Kenya

• Banking & Fintech Drive Inclusion

Five of the top ten are banks (Equity, KCB, Co‑op, NCBA, I&M). Their prominence among the  top 10 most valuable brands in Kenya highlights Kenya’s transformation into a financial inclusion powerhouse. Equity’s microfinance, KCB’s regional influence, NCBA’s youthful edge, Co‑op’s cooperative roots, and I&M’s regional reach collectively mobilise capital, empower entrepreneurs, and promote economic equity.

• Safaricom & M‑PESA: Digital Infrastructure and Financial Innovation

Safaricom and its fintech marvel M‑PESA anchor Kenya’s digital economy. The company reported KES 388.7 billion in revenue in FY2025, the majority of which came from digital services, especially KES 161 billion from M‑PESA in Kenya. Their commitment extends to community investment, with KES 18 billion spent over five years on education, health, environment, and economic empowerment.

• Utilities, FMCG, and Aviation: Stability, Heritage, National Identity

KPLC fulfils a national infrastructure need, Tusker embodies the Kenyan lifestyle, and Kenya Airways represents regional connectivity and national pride. These brands underscore the diversified strength of Kenya’s economy, anchored in essential services and cultural symbols.

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