Safaricom Breaks the 50 Million Barrier in Kenya, Boasting a Massive Customer Base
Safaricom PLC, a leading telecom company in Kenya, has reached a significant milestone, surpassing 50 million mobile network users in the East African nation. This achievement, announced recently, is a testament to the company's commitment to transforming lives and shaping the future of mobile services in Kenya.
As Safaricom PLC approaches its 25th anniversary in October 2025, the company has reaffirmed its dedication to being a force for good and creating the future of mobile services in Kenya. This commitment is evident in its ongoing efforts to contribute to Kenya's digital landscape, such as the introduction of Sambaza Furaha and M-PESA Sokoni.
Sambaza Furaha and M-PESA Sokoni are new initiatives aimed at engaging and supporting Safaricom's customers in Kenya. These initiatives are part of the company's broader strategy to bring services and rewards closer to communities across the country.
Safaricom launched in 2000 with just 17,000 subscribers. Since then, the company's rapid growth is closely linked to Kenya's digital transformation. One of the key factors driving this growth has been Safaricom's M-PESA service, which has had a profound impact on Kenya's financial inclusion and digital transformation.
M-PESA, a mobile-based money transfer and microfinancing service, has been instrumental in driving financial inclusion and connectivity across Kenya. It dramatically expanded access to financial services for millions of previously unbanked individuals, enabling them to make transactions, save money, and access credit via mobile phones without needing traditional bank accounts.
The impacts of M-PESA are far-reaching. It has contributed to financial inclusion by bringing mobile banking to vast populations previously excluded from formal financial systems, including rural and low-income communities. This expansion of financial participation offered a trusted, simple mobile wallet accessible even on non-smartphones.
In terms of poverty reduction and economic empowerment, studies show that M-PESA lifted about 194,000 Kenyan households (roughly 2% of all households) out of extreme poverty by improving household consumption and economic opportunities. Easier access to money also facilitated non-farm employment and shifted women away from subsistence farming into small-scale retail businesses.
Moreover, M-PESA spearheaded Kenya's fintech revolution, demonstrating how digital technology could lower barriers to financial services. It pushed traditional financial institutions to innovate and adopt digital approaches, accelerating the broader adoption of digital payments in Kenya and influencing similar services across Africa.
The ease of sending and receiving money enabled individuals to pursue job opportunities beyond local farming, doubling non-farm self-employment in some regions. This flexibility contributed to economic diversification and improved food security.
Furthermore, while M-PESA remains centrally controlled by Safaricom and regulated by Kenya’s Central Bank, it laid the groundwork for emerging digital financial solutions, including complementary fintechs and newer technologies like Bitcoin usage in informal settlements. This shows a growing digital financial ecosystem.
In summary, M-PESA acted as a catalyst for Kenya’s transition toward a more inclusive, digitally enabled financial landscape with tangible poverty alleviation and economic empowerment effects. Its model continues to influence fintech innovation across Africa.
Safaricom attributes the milestone to the profound trust, unwavering loyalty, and incredible partnership it has built with Kenyans. The company expresses its gratitude to its customers for their continued engagement and support through various initiatives, specifically Sambaza Furaha and M-PESA Sokoni.
The achievement marks a major moment in Safaricom's 25-year journey of innovation and digital inclusion. The company's commitment to transforming lives and shaping the future of mobile services in Kenya is a continuation of its role in driving financial inclusion and connectivity across the country.
In light of its 50 million mobile network user milestone, Safaricom PLC plans to further contribute to Kenya's digital landscape by enhancing its business model through technology, as demonstrated by its upcoming initiatives Sambaza Furaha and M-PESA Sokoni. These initiatives aim to engage communities across Kenya by offering more services and rewards.
M-PESA, a pioneering mobile-based finance service by Safaricom, has significantly impacted Kenya's economy, lifting 194,000 Kenyan households out of extreme poverty, stimulating fintech innovation, and contributing to economic diversification and improved food security. The company's ongoing commitment to shaping the future of mobile services in Kenya underscores its dedication to financial inclusion and digital transformation.
