Airtel Money has partnered with Showmax to make it easier for customers to pay for their subscriptions directly from their mobile wallets.
The integration enables Airtel Money users to quickly and conveniently subscribe to, renew, or activate Showmax, offering a simple and reliable way to access entertainment, especially during the festive season.
The partnership is part of Airtel Money’s efforts to make everyday digital services easier to use while giving customers more payment options across entertainment and online services.
Airtel Money Kenya Managing Director Anne Kinuthia-Otieno said the integration provides a fast, safe, and smooth payment experience, while supporting the company’s focus on improving customer convenience through practical digital solutions.
Also Read: Showmax Overtakes Netflix as Africa’s Preferred Streaming Platform
MultiChoice Kenya Managing Director Nzola Miranda said the move removes payment challenges and makes it easier for customers to enjoy both local and international content on Showmax.
Airtel Money users can now pay for all Showmax packages, including Showmax Entertainment, Showmax Entertainment Mobile, and Showmax Premier League Mobile, directly from their Airtel Money wallets, giving more Kenyans easy access to entertainment as they relax and celebrate with family and friends.
Showmax has been working with Safaricom’s M-Pesa for the premium package subscription, sidelining Airtel-only users.
In the African streaming market, Showmax holds a larger client base than Netflix, primarily due to its highly localized strategy, flexible pricing, and strong focus on African content and sports.
Netflix once enjoyed the African market hegemony until 2023, when its clients slumped to just 1.8 million.
Airtel Money’s subscriber base in Kenya is over 5.5 million users as of late 2025, and it captures a significant and growing market share, hitting double digits (around 10.3%), challenging M-Pesa’s long dominance by offering lower fees and broader agent networks, from what we gather.
While current Showmax subscriber numbers for Kenya alone are not publicly available, the South African-owned MultiChoice reported a total of 2.1 million Showmax subscribers across Africa as of November 2023.
