Ticketmaster is entering the Kenyan market through its platform Quicket, marking a new phase in the company’s long-term investment in East Africa’s live entertainment industry.
Backed by Ticketmaster’s global infrastructure, Quicket is rolling out a platform tailored to Kenya’s market. Digital ticketing is expected to cut down on fraud and speed up entry at events, while integration with local payment services like Safaricom’s M-Pesa and Airtel Money aims to make ticket purchases more accessible for Kenyan fans.
Central to the platform’s strategy is reaching fans through the channels they already use. With Africa home to 1.6 billion people — the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population — young, mobile-first audiences are increasingly finding and buying tickets through their phones. Quicket’s global distribution network, which includes Spotify, Google, Meta, Bandsintown, and Apple Music, places events directly in front of fans as they discover new artists and experiences, giving organisers a wider route to audiences.
Looking ahead, Quicket is also building WhatsApp-based ticketing tools to bring purchasing into fans’ everyday messaging habits, along with AI-powered features designed to simplify how people find and buy tickets.
The platform is already partnering with several major Kenyan events and brands, including Kilifi’s Beneath the Baobabs festival and food discovery platform EatOut, helping them reach broader audiences through Quicket’s ticketing and discovery tools.
John Masembe, Business Operations Director at Quicket, said: “Spend a weekend in Nairobi or head to one of Kenya’s festivals and you can feel the energy immediately. From packed music events and festival crowds to food, culture and social experiences, Kenya has a vibrant and growing live entertainment scene. Live experiences are deeply woven into the country’s culture, and fans are showing a huge appetite for coming together.
“Quicket and Ticketmaster’s role is to help build the infrastructure behind that momentum, making it easier for organisers, artists, and venues to grow, connect with audiences, and scale live experiences across Kenya.”
Justin Van Wyk, Managing Director of Ticketmaster South Africa, added: “Kenya is an exciting live entertainment market, with a young, mobile-first audience and a growing community of organisers, artists, and venues creating experiences for fans across the country. Quicket has the local knowledge and relationships to serve that market well.
“Our role is to back that expertise with Ticketmaster’s global scale, giving event organisers, artists, and fans in Kenya the same market-leading ticketing experience audiences expect anywhere in the world. We’re excited about the opportunity to support the continued growth of Kenya’s live entertainment ecosystem.”
The launch builds on Quicket’s existing footprint in East Africa. The company has worked with local partners in the region since 2016, accumulating nearly a decade of on-the-ground experience, relationships, and field-services capability.
For more information about Quicket and Ticketmaster, visit their respective websites.
