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• The American billionaire Elon Musk’s internet company, Starlink, has introduced new payment options.for its mini kits in Kenya
• The small kit now costs less initially, but is paid through bigger installments eachmonth, making it affordable for consumers
• Starlink is positioned as the ninth-largest Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the nation, holding a 0.8% market share, following Safaricom and other firms.

A journalist from co.ke, Japhet Ruto, brings more than eight years of expertise in covering financial, business, and technology topics, providing analysis on economic developments in Kenya and around the world.

Starlink, a satellite internet service operated by SpaceX and owned by American entrepreneur Elon Musk, has introduced installment options for its small kits in Kenya, reducing initial expenses for users.

The company seeks to increase its user base, which has experienced a slowdown in growth during the last year.

What is the cost for Starlink users?

The updated plan requires an initial payment of KSh 6,750, along with KSh 16,250 for activation fees and KSh 3,000 for shipping.

The balance needs to be settled within a six-month timeframe.

Installment payments are an option for customers who want to pay for their Starlink mini kit in installments over six months. Pay the initial installment at checkout and then settle the remaining balance through six monthly installments,” Starlink stated on itswebsite.

The typical KSh 6,500 monthly fee for a residential subscription has gone up by KSh 4,500 over six months for the package.

The significant initial expense of Starlink’s hardware is limiting the number of subscribers among most users.

With the new payment plan, budget-minded customers are expected to gain better access to the kits, particularly in underdeveloped and rural regions, where initial costs have previously discouraged usage.

The small set, priced at KSh 27,000, now demands a smaller initial payment, but is settled through bigger monthly installments.

In which year was the Starlink mini kit launched in Kenya?

In September 2024, one year after the company launched its operations in the local market, the Starlink kitwas introducedin Kenya at KSh 49,900.

In the initial six months after entering Kenya in 2023, the company expanded rapidly and captured a 0.5% share of the market.

The Communications Authority of Kenyanoted that by December 2025, the number of customers had reached 19,146, an increase from 16,786 in September 2024, indicating a market share of 0.8%.

What caused Starlink’s market share to decrease?

However, because of space limitations, the companystopped subscriptions In bustling cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa in November 2024, challenges impeded growth.

Active subscriptions fell to 17,066 by March 2024 due to the freeze, which remained in place until June 2025.

The break allowed competitors to strengthen their control over the regional market.

The country’s leading telecommunications firms, Safaricom and Airtel, took action toinstall 5G routersThat cost under KSh 3,000, targeting the same rural clients as Starlink.

The stable internet market in Kenya isdominated by Safaricom(35.6%), followed by Jamii Telecom (20.6%), Wananchi Group (12.7%), Poa Internet (12.5%), Ahadi Wireless (7.5%), and Mawingu Networks (3.6%). Starlink holds the ninth position.