Wiper Party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka addresses the media during a press briefing in Nairobi on July 3, 2026.
NAIROBI, July 3, 2026 — Opposition leaders have criticised the Government’s decision to complete the sale of its 15 per cent stake in Safaricom PLC to Vodacom before the High Court delivers its judgment on a constitutional petition challenging the transaction, describing the move as unconstitutional, opaque and against the public interest.
Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi on Friday, Wiper Party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka accused the Government of rushing through the transaction despite the substantive constitutional petition remaining before the High Court.
“The Government must not be allowed to outrun the court process. The due process of the law ought to have been allowed to take its course to its proper legal conclusion,” Kalonzo said.
He said although the Court of Appeal lifted conservatory orders that had temporarily halted the sale, it did not determine the legality or constitutionality of the transaction, arguing that Kenyans were entitled to know why the Government proceeded before the court pronounced itself.
Kalonzo maintained that Safaricom is a strategic national asset whose infrastructure supports Kenya’s digital economy and should not have been disposed of without full accountability and transparency.
“We respect the courts and we will await the High Court’s determination of the matter. We also reserve every legal, constitutional and public-interest avenue available to challenge this transaction and to protect the wealth of the Kenyan people,” he added.
The Wiper leader further claimed that the Government sold about six billion shares at Sh34 per share, reducing its ownership from 35 per cent to 20 per cent while increasing Vodacom’s shareholding.
He argued that expert evidence presented before the court suggested the shares were worth considerably more and questioned the decision to conclude the transaction before an expected dividend payment.
Justin Muturi, Party Leader of the Democratic Party (DP), urged Kenyans to respect the Judiciary as the High Court prepares to determine the constitutional petition, saying confidence in the courts remains essential in resolving disputes involving public assets.
“I hope that Kenyans will continue to respect the Judiciary and the judges of the High Court as they determine this matter,” Muturi said.
He also questioned the role of regulatory institutions in the transaction, saying agencies mandated to oversee competition and investments should account to the public.
“Where was the Competition Authority? Kenyans deserve answers regarding this transaction and the issues surrounding these investments,” he said.
Tony Gachoka, National Spokesperson of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), said the legal team challenging the transaction remained committed to pursuing every available legal avenue until the matter is conclusively determined.
“William Ruto knows this team of Kalonzo Musyoka and Tony Gachoka very well because we obtained mandatory legal orders that stopped the sale of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Adani. We forced the Government to abandon that transaction,” Gachoka said.
He expressed confidence that the courts would fairly determine the Safaricom case and said the legal challenge would continue regardless of the High Court’s outcome.
“As we await the High Court ruling on this Safaricom sale matter, we will push this matter all the way to the Supreme Court. We are not letting this matter rest,” Gachoka said.
The opposition leaders maintained that the dispute extends beyond the share sale itself, arguing that it raises broader constitutional questions relating to public participation, valuation of strategic national assets, accountability and adherence to the rule of law.
They said they would continue pursuing legal and constitutional mechanisms to safeguard what they described as the interests of the Kenyan people.The High Court is expected to deliver its judgment on the constitutional petition in August.
