Top Advertising Agencies in Kenya by Market Size

Advertising is an important part of running a successful business venture. No matter the advertising mode you settle on, you should only work with an advertising agency that offers innovative solutions. The agency should also help boost your social media visibility, brand awareness and help you develop a credible corporate identity. 

In this guide, we review the best advertising agencies in Kenya by market size. Of course, the better an agency is at its job, the larger its market share is likely to be, right? 

10 Best Advertising Agencies in Kenya

Collectively, the “Big Boys” in this space control over 80% of the advertising agency business in Kenya, as reported on this 2020 Business Daily publication. Granted, 2020 is a long time ago some key players have left the market and new ones joined. However, wrestling a piece of the market pie from the firm grip of well-financed blue chip companies like ScanGroup is never a walk in the park. You can bet not much has changed in this space between then and now.

Logo	Agency Name	Physical Address
	ScanGroup	5th Floor, Chancery, Valley Rd, Nairobi
	Access Leo Burnett	Senteu Plaza 4th Floor Galana/Lenana Rd Junction
	Ogilvy Africa	The Atrium, 1st Floor, Chaka Road, off Lenana Road, Nairobi
	MindShare	4th Floor, Laiboni Centre, Lenana Road, Nairobi
	Transcend Media Group	Royal Offices, Parklands, Mogotio Rd, Nairobi
	Saracen OMD	Ideas House Kabarsiran Close, Off Kabarsiran Avenue Nairobi
	Weber ShandWick	3rd Floor, The Promenade, General Mathenge Road, Nairobi
	Brand2D	Nelleon Place, Rhapta Road, Nairobi
	Charleson Group	Charleson Place off USIU Road, Nairobi

1. ScanGroup

ScanGroup was started in 1982 by Bharat Thakrar, and listed IPO in 2006. It is thought to be the largest communication/marketing agency not just in Kenya but also in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. WPP PLC, a UK-based British communications company, acquired a controlling stake in ScanGroup in 2013. The group was later renamed to the WPP-ScanGroup in 2015. 

ScanGroup is thought to control over 70% of this industry, as seen in this 2020 reporting. ScanGroup also owns Squad Digital, one of the best-known digital marketing agencies in the country.

Some of the core capabilities of ScanGroup include brand stewardship, Communications, media investment management, shopper marketing and technology advisory. The group has offices in 23 African countries, and its headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya. 

2. Access Leo Burnett

Access Leo Burnett is an all-round creative and marketing agency that helps brands boost their market share, visibility, and customer acquisition. This agency is thought to control 6 percent of the market share.

Its top clients include renowned brands like Brookside, Nivea, P&G, VISA, Nestle, Ariel, Nescafe, Samsung etc. Access Leo Burnett was founded in 1979 and is a subsidiary of Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s largest communications networks. 

The agency has offices in Asia Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The Access Leo Burnett offices in Kenya are located at the Senteu Plaza, Lenana Road, Nairobi. 

3. Ogilvy Africa

Ogilvy Africa manages a portfolio of over 100 brands including the likes of Africa CDC, Coca-Cola, Airtel, Equity Bank, etc. Ogilvy Africa is one of the most awarded advertising agencies in the region. The company was founded in 1948 by David Ogilvy and has a physical presence in 24 sub-Saharan African countries.

This agency offers specialized expert advice in brand management, trade marketing, social media marketing, digital marketing, public relations, advertising, etc.

Ogilvy Africa was in 2020 thought to control close to 5% of the market share. The company was locally acquired by WPP ScanGroup in 2010 through a share buyback plan. Its headquarters are at the Atrium building, Chaka Road, Off Lenana Road, Nairobi. 

4. Mindshare

Mindshare is a global media agency network that offers specialized services like account management, content partnerships, data analytics, marketing, and strategic planning. Mindshare is part of the WPP Group and has a presence in 86 countries. The firm was founded in 1977, and its headquarters are based in London, UK.

In Kenya, Mindshare is thought to control at least 3% of the advertising market. Their Kenyan offices are at the CVS Plaza, Lenana Road, Kilimani, Nairobi.

5. Transcend Media Group

Transcend Media Group is an agency that offers its clientele diverse services like communication management, brand visibility, public relations, marketing, and digital media management. Though Kenyan-based, this advertising agency has a global reach through its associates McCann Worldgroup and MullenLowe Group. 

The group started operations in 2009 and has since been focusing on helping its clients stand out by leveraging technology. Transcend Media Group’s offices are located at the Royal Offices Building, Mogotio Road, Parklands. Its clientele comprises the likes of Casio, Prudential Africa, and Multichoice Kenya to mention but a few.

6. Saracen OMD

Saracen Media was founded in 2002 by four individuals who had years of experience working with international advertising agencies. In 2005, Saracen Media entered a global partnership with Omnicom, which saw it change its name to Saracen OMD. Saracen OMD provides a range of services that incorporate innovation, talent, technology, and creativity to make their partner brands successful.

Since the collaboration, Saracen Media gained many firsts; it was the first company to convince the government to separate media and creative pitches as they were previously bundled. In 2006, it was the first media-centered company to be enlisted to the Association of Practitioners in Advertising.

The Saracen Media offices are at the Ideas House, Kabarsiran Close, Westlands, in Nairobi City.

7. Weber ShandWick 

Weber Shandwick, is an international communications and marketing firm. It was formed in 2001 after the merger between Shandwick, Weber Group, and BSMG. In 2013, Weber ShandWick entered the Kenyan market through a partnership with Gina Din Corporate Communications (GDCC), a highly renowned public relations agency. 

Coupled with GDCC’s over 25 years of experience, the group serves both local and internal brands. GDCC offers influential marketing, media relations, branding, strategic planning, public, and social engagement services. The firm’s headquarters are located along Gitanga Road, Nairobi. 

8. Brand2D

Brand2D is a renowned creative and digital advertising agency that started operations in 2009. Its service spectrum includes branding, photography, advertising, designing, and publication. 

Brand2D’s partnership with top brands like Britam, and Dettol has seen it rank among the best marketing companies in Kenya. The Brand2D offices are located at the Nelleon Place, Rhapta Road, Westlands in Nairobi. 

9. Charleson Group

Charleson Group focuses on helping top brands to thrive by offering experiential marketing, digital marketing, advertising, and media relations services. Steven Muchiri founded Charleson in 2015. Nine years later, the firm has risen to become one of the most sought-after marketing and communications agencies in town.

Charleson offers its services to renowned brands like Lenovo, Pearson, IBM, and even Uber. The Charleson offices are located at the Charleson Place, USIU Road, Nairobi. 

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter if you are a startup or an established business; you should always strive to make better marketing decisions. Therefore, you should look for the best advertising agencies to help take your business to the next level. The above eleven advertising agencies don’t just hold the biggest advertising market share; they have several years of experience, are credible, and embrace innovative advertising solutions.

Lenah Wangwe

With a Diploma in Banking and Finance, Lenah boasts a good understanding of the Kenyan business landscape. She’s a seasoned freelance copywriter who enjoys reading the Bible during her free time.