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Ride-hailing giant Uber is set to acquire Glovo Kenya as part of a Sh1.95 trillion ($13.2 billion) agreement to purchase Delivery Hero’s food delivery operations across 50 markets worldwide.
The deal involves Delivery Hero’s businesses in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, including Glovo’s operations in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Morocco and other African countries. It also covers brands such as foodpanda in Asia, HungerStation in Saudi Arabia, talabat in the Gulf region and Pedidos Ya in Latin America.
Once the transaction receives regulatory approval, Uber is expected to strengthen its footprint in Kenya by integrating Glovo’s food delivery and on-demand retail services with its existing ride-hailing platform, creating a more comprehensive mobility and delivery network.
Uber Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said the merger would help expand affordable and reliable delivery services while creating more opportunities for customers, merchants and delivery partners across fast-growing markets.
The acquisition comes as demand for digital commerce continues to rise in Kenya, fuelled by increased smartphone use, rapid urbanisation and growing consumer reliance on online food delivery, grocery shopping and quick-commerce services.
Delivery Hero said its management and supervisory boards have approved the transaction, noting that the move is aimed at improving the company’s long-term competitiveness in an increasingly scale-driven industry.
In a separate agreement, Delivery Hero will sell its operations in 14 European markets—where it competes directly with Uber Eats—to New York-based investment firm SSW Partners for about €1.4 billion (approximately Sh210 billion). The sale includes Glovo businesses in Spain, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Moldova and several other European countries.
The acquisition remains subject to regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions. If completed, Uber’s combined mobility and delivery business is projected to operate in 99 countries with a pro forma gross merchandise value of $236 billion based on 2025 estimates.
