Nairobi — Global ticketing company Ticketmaster has expanded into Kenya through its subsidiary Quicket, targeting the country's growing live entertainment and events market.
The launch will give event organisers access to digital ticketing and wider event-discovery tools, while customers will be able to buy tickets using local payment options including M-Pesa and Airtel Money.
Quicket said its digital ticketing system is expected to help reduce ticket fraud and speed up entry at events.
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The platform will also distribute events through platforms such as Spotify, Google, Meta, Bandsintown and Apple Music, allowing organisers to reach audiences beyond traditional ticketing channels.
Quicket is also developing WhatsApp-based ticketing and AI-powered tools to make it easier for customers to discover and purchase tickets.
The company is already working with Kenyan events and experience brands including Beneath the Baobabs festival in Kilifi and food discovery platform EatOut.
John Masembe, Quicket Business Operations Director, said Kenya's growing events industry presented an opportunity for the company to strengthen ticketing infrastructure and help organisers reach more customers.
"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," Masembe said.
Ticketmaster South Africa Managing Director Justin Van Wyk said Kenya's young population and growing number of event organisers made it an attractive market.
"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," Van Wyk said.
The expansion builds on Quicket's presence in East Africa, where it has operated with local partners since 2016.
The company said the Kenyan launch will form part of its wider investment in the region's live entertainment industry, as more consumers use digital platforms to discover and purchase tickets for concerts, festivals, food and cultural events.
