Joshua Chepkwony, chairman of East Africa Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK), is leading a push to expand smartphone access in Kenya through local assembly. EADAK produced 700,000 digital devices during the financial year ending March 2026, according to Vodacom Group, parent company of Safaricom. The joint venture includes Jamii Telecommunications Limited (JTL), Safaricom, and Chinese partner TeleOne, and operates a plant with an annual capacity of up to three million devices. It manufactures entry-level 4G smartphones retailing from KSh7,499, as well as educational tablets and biometric devices for financial service providers.
To improve affordability, EADAK offers financing plans that allow customers to pay for devices in instalments. The initiative supports Kenya's digital inclusion goals by pairing expanding 4G and 5G networks with lower-cost internet-enabled devices. Many Kenyans still use basic phones unable to access high-speed mobile internet, limiting uptake of digital banking, e-commerce, online education and government services. Local assembly is seen as a way to reduce import dependence, shorten supply chains, and create skilled jobs.
Chepkwony, also founder of telecom operator Faiba under JTL, said the plant supports the government's digital inclusion agenda. "We have been able to achieve affordability through a collaborative approach that comprises industry partnership and favourable government policies," he said. EADAK's output shows local smartphone production is scaling, though most phones in Kenya are still imported. The project marks JTL's expansion beyond network infrastructure into device manufacturing, aligning with broader national efforts to grow domestic electronics production.
Chepkwony champions government collaboration while leading a private company that benefits from those same policies, blurring the line between public interest and corporate gain. The 700,000 devices assembled may signal progress, but with most smartphones still imported, the scale remains limited. Kenyans relying on basic phones are yet to see tangible shifts in device access. Local assembly alone cannot close the digital divide without broader affordability and distribution breakthroughs.
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