Glovo pledges US$97.3M to expand across Kenya beyond Nairobi by 2030
What's the deal? Glovo has pledged to invest US$97.3M in Kenya by 2030 to expand its delivery platform beyond Nairobi into more towns and cities. The Spanish scaleup, owned by Delivery Hero, announced the plan at its inaugural Future of Commerce Summit in Nairobi on October 26.
What's the endgame? Part of the investment will fund expansion into additional towns outside Nairobi, extending digital storefronts to regional traders. Glovo already operates in 12 Kenyan towns and cities, serving more than 6,000 merchants and over 2,200 active riders daily. It did not provide a detailed breakdown of the planned spending.
Why now? Glovo reported 40% year-on-year order growth in 2025 as digital shopping gains ground. Since entering Kenya in 2019, businesses on the platform have generated more than US$194.7M in sales, roughly 80% of it going to small and medium-sized enterprises.
What else? The company is pushing beyond food into new categories. A partnership with electronics brand oraimoDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → now lets customers order gadgets and accessories for fast delivery, and Glovo showcased an in-app AI assistant that uses language models such as ChatGPT and ClaudeDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → to let users search in everyday language rather than scrolling menus.
What could go wrong? The impact depends on execution. As one summit discussion noted, how far such platforms broaden customer access will hinge on delivery costs, digital access, and demand outside major urban centres.
The signal: The pledge is a long-term bet on Kenya's digital-commerce growth. "The way Kenyans shop is changing, and businesses must adapt to these new consumer expectations," said Caroline Mutuku, Glovo's country managing director in Kenya — a shift that is intensifying competition for repeat spending across the market.
Read more: kenya-today.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
