Kenyans face costlier budget smartphones on AI chip boom

Kenyan consumers are likely to pay more for locally assembled smartphones as the global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips drives up the prices of memory components. The cost of Random Access Memory (RAM) has more than doubled since October 2025, reaching prices as high as $65 for types that previously cost $19. Manufacturers like M-Kopa are currently absorbing some of these costs but may consider raising handset prices if the situation continues.