Nairobi, May 7 -- Safaricom Plc has raised its total dividend by 66.7 percent to Sh2 per share for the year ended March 31, 2026 after posting a 67.3 percent rise in net profit to Sh99.7 billion, driven by strong M-Pesa growth in Kenya and sharply reduced losses in Ethiopia.

The proposed payout comprises a final dividend of Sh1.15 per share, adding to the interim dividend of Sh0.85 paid earlier this year. Total shareholder payouts for the period stand at Sh80 billion.

This marks a sharp increase from the previous financial year when Safaricom paid a total dividend of Sh1.20 per share, comprising a final payout of Sh0.65 and an interim dividend of Sh0.55.

The company's profitability in Kenya rose by 24.7 percent to Sh119.7 billion, larg...