Equity Bank Retains Title as Kenya’s Most Valuable Brand for 2025
Equity Bank has once again claimed the top spot as Kenya’s most valuable brand, maintaining its position for the second consecutive year, according to the 2025 Brand Finance rankings.
The banking giant’s brand value rose by 8% to KES71.3 billion, driven by a strong customer base, consistent growth in net interest income, and a high Brand Strength Index (BSI) score, reflecting deep consumer trust and brand engagement.
The latest rankings underscore the continued dominance of the banking sector, which accounts for over half of the total brand value in the top 10. Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Co-operative Bank of Kenya followed closely behind Equity, securing third and fifth places respectively. KCB saw a 9% rise in brand value to KES54.8 billion, while Co-op Bank retained its position, highlighting strong sector-wide performance fuelled by increased demand for financial services and digital banking solutions.
Safaricom remains the country’s second most valuable brand with a marginal 0.5% increase in brand value to KES58.3 billion. The telecom operator continues to ride the wave of Kenya’s accelerating digital transformation.
Meanwhile, digital payments platform M-Pesa took fourth place, continuing its growth trajectory by leveraging Kenya’s increasing reliance on secure, convenient digital transactions. NCBA ranked sixth, and Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC) retained seventh, with the utility firm’s brand value climbing 4% to KES16.6 billion, thanks to higher electricity sales.
A notable highlight in this year’s report is Tusker, which climbed to eighth place and became Kenya’s fastest-growing brand, posting a 67% increase in brand value to KES9.6 billion. The surge is attributed to a rebound in consumer spending and the revitalisation of the hospitality sector.
I&M Bank also rose in the rankings to ninth place, following a 38% brand value jump to KES7.8 billion. Despite an 8.5% growth in brand value to KES7.0 billion, Kenya Airways slipped to tenth, largely due to competitors’ stronger performances. Nonetheless, the airline’s financial turnaround, anchored by its “Project Kifaru” strategy, contributed to its improved valuation.
Tusker Tops Brand Strength Rankings
In addition to its value growth, Tusker was crowned Kenya’s strongest brand in 2025, with a Brand Strength Index score of 97.1 out of 100. It scored a perfect 10 across familiarity, consideration, and reputation within Kenya, highlighting the beer brand’s deep cultural relevance and loyal customer base.
KCB held its position as the second strongest brand with a BSI score of 94.4, thanks to its digital innovation and expanding customer experience. Insurance firm Britam maintained third place in brand strength with a 91.4 score, lauded for its reliability, pricing acceptance, and strong market presence.
Equity Bank, despite leading in overall brand value, slipped to fourth in brand strength due to a slight dip in its BSI score. However, it still retains a strong AAA+ rating and continues to perform well across key consumer perception metrics such as reputation, consideration, and preference.
Brand Finance defines brand value as the net economic benefit a brand owner would gain from licensing the brand in a competitive market. Meanwhile, brand strength measures the effectiveness of a brand’s intangible assets relative to competitors, rated on a scale of 100.
The 2025 rankings reaffirm the critical role of financial institutions in Kenya’s economy while highlighting the resurgence of consumer brands like Tusker that are capitalising on post-pandemic recovery trends.
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