EADAK Factory in Athi River Assembles 700,000 Smartphones in First Year

East Africa Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK) operates in Athi River near Nairobi. The facility is a joint venture involving Safaricom, Chinese partner TeleOne and Jamii Telecommunications. Kenyan billionaire Joshua Chepkwony chairs the company through his telecom interests.

In the financial year ending March 2026 EADAK assembled seven hundred thousand locally produced digital devices. Vodacom Group, Safaricom’s parent company, released the production figures. This marks a strong start for the plant in its first full year.

The factory targets low-income households. Many previously could not afford smartphones due to cost barriers. It assembles 4G-enabled devices that retail for as little as seven thousand four hundred and seventy two shillings.

Annual production capacity stands at three million units. The plant has expanded beyond consumer smartphones. It now includes educational tablets and biometric devices used for customer verification in financial services.

Joshua Chepkwony highlighted the milestone. He noted that public policy and private sector collaboration can achieve significant results. The assembly supports government goals for wider digital access across Kenya.

The project promotes transition from older 2G and 3G networks. It helps build capacity for 4G and future 5G infrastructure. Asset financing through Safaricom-linked plans allows instalment payments as low as twenty shillings per day.

Chepkwony founded Jamii Telecommunications in 2016. The company operates the Faiba brand. It was the first in Kenya to deploy a 700 megahertz mobile network.

Final civil works at the plant focus on quality control. Snagging corrects minor defects before full scale-up. Testing ensures devices meet standards for local and regional markets.

The factory contributes to Kenya’s ambition for a local smartphone manufacturing ecosystem. It accelerates access to modern technology in both rural and urban areas. Educational tablets support digital learning initiatives.

Biometric verification devices aid financial inclusion efforts. They help field agents complete customer registration processes efficiently. This expands services to previously underserved populations.

Chepkwony also chairs Sergoit Holdings. That entity is developing a large resort project near Eldoret. His broader investments span media, telecom and real estate.

The EADAK facility demonstrates practical outcomes of industry partnerships. Continued growth could see higher output in coming years. Local assembly reduces reliance on imported finished devices.

Further expansion may include more device categories. The plant supports skills development in manufacturing. It creates jobs and builds technical capacity within Kenya.