Safaricom

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Kenyan telecommunications and mobile-financial-services company best known for the M-Pesa platform.

Last updated October 29, 2026

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First read: Nov 4, 2026
Latest read: Nov 4, 2026

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Overview

Safaricom PLC is a Kenyan telecommunications company headquartered in Nairobi and listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange under the symbol SCOM. It is Kenya's largest mobile-network operator and one of the most commercially significant technology and financial-services businesses in East and Central Africa. Its activities extend well beyond conventional voice and messaging: the company provides mobile connectivity, broadband, fibre, enterprise communications, cloud and data services, consumer devices, digital content, electronic commerce, and mobile financial services. Safaricom's defining asset is M-Pesa, a mobile-money platform developed for the Vodafone group and launched in Kenya in 2007. M-Pesa initially addressed the practical difficulty of making microfinance repayments through a mobile phone, but it quickly evolved into a broad payments, savings, credit, merchant-payments, remittance, and business-services ecosystem. In Kenya, M-Pesa became embedded in everyday economic activity, supporting person-to-person transfers, bill payment, retail purchases, government and institutional collections, and access to financial products. Safaricom subsequently expanded the ecosystem through offerings such as Lipa na M-Pesa, M-Shwari, KCB M-Pesa, M-Pesa Global, M-Pesa for Business, M-Pesa Go, and other credit and savings products delivered with banking or technology partners. The company began in 1997 as a fully owned subsidiary of Telkom Kenya. Vodafone Group acquired a 40 percent stake and management responsibility in 2000, helping provide capital, operational expertise, and access to the broader Vodafone and M-Pesa technology ecosystem. The Kenyan government later offered 25 percent of the company to the public through the Nairobi Securities Exchange in 2008. Safaricom's ownership and governance have therefore combined public-market participation with strategic institutional shareholders, although precise ownership details can change over time. Safaricom has repeatedly expanded the technical capacity of its network. Its mobile services have included 2G on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz, 3G services on 900 MHz and 2100 MHz, and 4G LTE, including carrier aggregation in selected locations. The company launched commercial 4G services in Nairobi and Mombasa in December 2014 and expanded coverage across other Kenyan cities. In March 2021, it became the second African network operator after Vodacom to launch a live 5G network, initially in Nairobi, Kisumu, Kakamega, and Kisii. The operator also provides fixed connectivity through fibre services and has developed digital and enterprise offerings around its network. Safaricom's domestic position has attracted both commercial success and regulatory scrutiny. The company has held a dominant share of Kenya's mobile market, voice traffic, and SMS traffic, prompting recurring debate over competition, infrastructure access, spectrum licensing, pricing, and the appropriate regulatory treatment of a network whose scale is closely connected to national payments infrastructure. Competitors including Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya have challenged aspects of the regulatory process surrounding Safaricom's LTE spectrum. Safaricom has also faced operational exposure to national infrastructure events, including communications disruptions in May 2024 after submarine cables serving East Africa were severed. In 2022, Safaricom entered Ethiopia, its first major geographic expansion outside Kenya as a network operator. The Ethiopian business has been developed as part of a consortium-backed telecommunications operation in a newly liberalized market, with customer growth continuing after launch. Safaricom's present positioning combines mass-market connectivity, a trusted national payments platform, digital inclusion, and enterprise technology services. Its long-term strategic challenge is to defend the Kenyan core while expanding data, fixed broadband, financial services, and regional operations without weakening customer trust or attracting disproportionate regulatory intervention.

History

Safaricom was established in 1997 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Telkom Kenya. At the time, Kenya's mobile market was still developing and mobile access was concentrated among a relatively small part of the population. Vodafone Group acquired a 40 percent interest in May 2000 and assumed management responsibility. Michael Joseph became the company's founding chief executive and led the early network build-out and customer expansion. During his tenure, Safaricom grew from fewer than 20,000 subscribers to more than 16 million, establishing the commercial and distribution base that later supported its mobile-money business. The company launched the Kipokezi service in May 2000, allowing users of ordinary mobile phones to exchange email and online-chat messages without a conventional internet connection. Safaricom also developed customer-oriented services such as Flashback, which allowed subscribers without airtime to send a predefined request for a return call. These products reflected the company's early emphasis on adapting communications services to local affordability and usage patterns. Safaricom's decisive turning point came in 2007 with the launch of M-Pesa. Developed by Vodafone for Safaricom and Vodacom, the service was initially conceived to facilitate microfinance-loan repayments by mobile phone. The pilot demonstrated broader demand for low-cost person-to-person transfers, and M-Pesa was repositioned as a general mobile-money service. Its agent network and simple handset-based interface helped it reach customers who were underserved by traditional banking infrastructure. Over time, M-Pesa expanded into merchant payments, bill collection, savings, credit, remittances, business tools, and international transfers. In 2008, the Kenyan government offered 25 percent of Safaricom's shares to the public through the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The company's ownership structure and Vodafone's indirect interests attracted public and political attention during the late 2000s, including questions concerning the identity of an indirect shareholder associated with Mobitelea Ventures. Vodafone stated that confidentiality obligations prevented disclosure of the shareholder's identity. Safaricom remained a listed company and continued to operate under strategic Vodafone influence during this period. Bob Collymore succeeded Michael Joseph as chief executive in November 2010. His tenure coincided with a broadening of Safaricom's mobile-financial-services portfolio and the introduction of products intended to deepen the relationship between M-Pesa users, banks, merchants, and institutions. In 2012, Safaricom launched Lipa na M-Pesa for merchant payments and partnered with NCBA on M-Shwari, a mobile savings and lending product. It later introduced products with KCB, health-financing partners, and international-remittance providers. These initiatives helped move the brand from being primarily a mobile operator toward becoming a national digital-finance platform. Safaricom simultaneously upgraded its communications network. It operated 2G and 3G services before launching LTE in Nairobi and Mombasa in December 2014, later extending 4G coverage to other cities. Competitors objected to aspects of the regulatory process through which Safaricom received access to 800 MHz LTE spectrum, illustrating the wider debate over competition and the company's market power. In March 2021, Safaricom launched a live 5G network in selected Kenyan cities. Collymore died on July 1, 2019, after a prolonged illness. Michael Joseph returned as interim chief executive, and Peter Ndegwa assumed the permanent role effective April 1, 2020. Under Ndegwa, Safaricom continued expanding mobile-finance products, digital services, enterprise offerings, and data connectivity. It introduced or expanded tools such as the unified M-Pesa USSD platform, M-Pesa for Business, device-financing initiatives, and M-Pesa Go for younger users. In 2022, the company entered Ethiopia, adding a major regional growth market to its Kenyan base. Adil Khawaja became board chairman in January 2023. The business was affected by regional submarine-cable disruptions in May 2024, highlighting the dependence of mobile and internet services on shared international infrastructure.

2023
New board chairman
[1]Safaricomen.wikipedia.org
Adil Khawaja is appointed chairman of the board.
2022
Entry into Ethiopia
[1]Safaricomen.wikipedia.org
Safaricom begins commercial telecommunications operations in Ethiopia.
2021
5G network launch
[1]Safaricomen.wikipedia.org
Safaricom launches a live 5G network in selected Kenyan cities.
2020
Peter Ndegwa becomes chief executive
[1]Safaricomen.wikipedia.org
Peter Ndegwa takes office on April 1.
2019
Bob Collymore dies
[1]Safaricomen.wikipedia.org
The chief executive dies on July 1, and Michael Joseph serves as interim chief executive.
2014
LTE service begins
[1]Safaricomen.wikipedia.org
Safaricom launches 4G LTE service in Nairobi and Mombasa.
2012
Merchant payments and M-Shwari
[1]Safaricomen.wikipedia.org
Safaricom launches Lipa na M-Pesa and introduces M-Shwari with NCBA.
2010
Leadership transition
[1]Safaricomen.wikipedia.org
Bob Collymore succeeds Michael Joseph as chief executive.
2008
Public share offering
[1]Safaricomen.wikipedia.org
The Kenyan government offers 25 percent of Safaricom's shares to the public through the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
2007
M-Pesa launches in Kenya
[2]M-Pesaen.wikipedia.org
Safaricom introduces the mobile-money service that becomes the company's signature platform.
2000
Vodafone takes a strategic stake
[1]Safaricomen.wikipedia.org
Vodafone Group acquires a 40 percent interest and assumes management responsibility.
1997
Safaricom is established
[1]Safaricomen.wikipedia.org
Safaricom begins as a fully owned subsidiary of Telkom Kenya.

Products and positioning

Market-leading Kenyan connectivity and mobile-financial-services platform, combining telecommunications infrastructure with a deeply integrated digital-payments ecosystem.

Mobile money and financial services · 2007
M-Pesa
Safaricom's core mobile-money platform enables transfers, deposits and withdrawals through an agent network, bill payments, merchant transactions, and access to related financial products. It was originally designed for microfinance-loan repayment but developed into a general-purpose payments ecosystem used by consumers, businesses, and institutions.
Merchant payments · 2012
Lipa na M-Pesa
Lipa na M-Pesa provides merchant-payment tools including Buy Goods, PayBill, and Till-number services. It allows businesses and organizations to accept cashless payments from M-Pesa customers and helped extend the platform from person-to-person transfers into retail commerce and institutional collections.
Mobile savings and credit · 2012
M-Shwari
M-Shwari is a mobile savings and lending product developed with NCBA. It gives eligible M-Pesa customers access to savings functionality and short-term credit through a mobile interface, linking Safaricom's distribution and payments platform with formal banking services.
Mobile savings and credit · 2015
KCB M-Pesa
KCB M-Pesa is a savings and loan service created with KCB Bank. It provides additional digital-finance functionality to M-Pesa users and broadens access to credit through a mobile-wallet relationship.
Digital health finance · 2015
M-TIBA
M-TIBA is a mobile health-financing wallet designed to help users manage funds intended for medical care. It can support targeted healthcare financing and tracking of disbursements by participating organizations and donors.
International payments · 2010
M-Pesa Global
M-Pesa Global extends the wallet beyond domestic transfers by supporting international remittances and selected cross-border payments. The service reflects Safaricom's effort to connect Kenya's mobile-money infrastructure with users and payment corridors outside the country.
Business payments and management · 2020
M-Pesa for Business
M-Pesa for Business gives merchants tools for monitoring payments, reviewing statements, and managing business performance. It positions M-Pesa not only as an acceptance channel but also as an operational tool for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Youth financial services · 2022
M-Pesa Go
M-Pesa Go is designed for users aged 10 to 17 and includes parental controls. The service targets financial education and supervised participation in digital finance while introducing younger customers to the M-Pesa ecosystem.
Mobile connectivity · 2014
Safaricom 4G and 5G
Safaricom operates mobile broadband services across 4G LTE and selected 5G locations, alongside legacy 2G and 3G networks. These services support consumer internet access, connected devices, digital payments, enterprise connectivity, and other data-dependent products.
Mobile messaging · 2000
Kipokezi
Kipokezi allowed subscribers to exchange email and online-chat messages through standard mobile phones without requiring a conventional internet connection. It was an early example of Safaricom adapting digital communications to limited handset and connectivity access.

Controversies

2026
Safaricom reports cyberattack attempts and security investigations
In its 2026 Sustainable Business Report, Safaricom stated that it detected approximately 1.25 billion intrusion attempts and investigated more than 130,000 security events. The company reported no confirmed material breaches and said that distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks were mitigated without material impact on customers.
Source
2020
Former Safaricom employee sues over alleged workplace negligence
A former Safaricom customer-care employee sued the company seeking compensation after losing her hearing. She attributed the impairment to lengthy work calls and accused Safaricom of negligence for failing to provide appropriate protective gear and adequate safety precautions; these are allegations in the lawsuit.
Source
2019
Customer sues Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, and Telkom Kenya over data-bundle expiry
Lawyer Adrian Kamotho filed a suit before Kenya's Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal against Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, and Telkom Kenya over the expiry of unused data bundles. He asked that the companies be prevented from deactivating customers' unused bundles. The article reports the allegation and the requested relief, not a ruling. This entry records the filing of the complaint as reported, without any finding on the merits or outcome of the matter.
Source

2020Lipa Mdogo Mdogo
Kenya
In partnership with Google, Safaricom introduced a device-financing initiative intended to help customers move from 2G phones to 4G-enabled devices through small daily installments.
Outcome. The program was positioned as a device-access and digital-inclusion initiative.
Source
2019Africa Shared Value Summit partnership
Africa
Safaricom partnered with the Shared Value Africa Initiative to host the Africa Shared Value Summit, associating the brand with business approaches intended to produce both commercial and social value.
Outcome. The summit provided a platform for discussion of shared-value business models and regional development.
Source

Brand decisions

2022
Enter EthiopiaStrategy
Background
Safaricom sought regional growth beyond its highly penetrated Kenyan home market as Ethiopia opened its telecommunications sector to additional competition.
Action taken
Safaricom began operating a telecommunications business in Ethiopia.
Aftermath
The company added a major East African growth market and continued developing its regional footprint.
Source
2021
Launch 5G servicesGeneration change
Background
Safaricom continued upgrading its network to support higher-speed data and emerging connected-device use cases.
Action taken
The company launched a live 5G network in selected Kenyan cities.
Aftermath
Safaricom became one of the earliest African operators with a live 5G network and continued building a higher-capacity data platform.
Source
2014
Deploy 4G LTEGeneration change
Background
Growing demand for mobile data required Safaricom to add higher-capacity broadband technology to its 2G and 3G networks.
Action taken
Safaricom launched LTE services in Nairobi and Mombasa and later expanded coverage to other locations.
Aftermath
The company strengthened its position in mobile broadband, although the spectrum-allocation process drew objections from competitors.
- Airtel Kenya — Airtel Kenya expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of the regulatory process surrounding Safaricom's LTE spectrum award.
- Telkom Kenya — Telkom Kenya also objected to aspects of the LTE licensing process.
Source
2012
Expand M-Pesa into merchant payments and banking partnershipsProduct launch
Background
Person-to-person transfers had established M-Pesa as a mass-market service, creating an opportunity to support commerce and formal financial products.
Action taken
Safaricom launched Lipa na M-Pesa and introduced M-Shwari with NCBA.
Aftermath
The M-Pesa ecosystem broadened from money transfer into merchant payments, savings, and digital credit.
Source
2007
Launch M-PesaProduct launch
Background
Safaricom sought to use mobile phones and an agent network to reduce the cost and difficulty of moving money and handling microfinance repayments.
Action taken
The company launched M-Pesa and expanded it from a microfinance-repayment concept into a general mobile-money service.
Aftermath
M-Pesa became Safaricom's signature platform and the foundation for payments, merchant services, savings, credit, and remittances.
Source

Recent events

2026.10.29
Reported2026.10.29
Safaricom reports cyberattack attempts and security investigations[5]Safaricom reports cyberattack attempts and security investigationstechweez.com
In its 2026 Sustainable Business Report, Safaricom said it detected about 1.25 billion intrusion attempts and investigated more than 130,000 security events. It reported no confirmed material breaches and said DDoS attacks were mitigated without material customer impact.
Unconfirmed
Reported2026.10.23
Safaricom launches Fuliza Ya Pochi[7]Safaricom推出Fuliza Ya Pochitechmoran.com
Safaricom launched Fuliza Ya Pochi, an overdraft facility for eligible Pochi La Biashara merchants to access funds when their wallet balance is insufficient.
2026.10.19
Reported2026.10.19
TECNO and Safaricom announce a discounted price for the POVA Curve 2 5G[8]TECNO与Safaricom宣布下调POVA Curve 2 5G售价kenya-today.com
TECNO and Safaricom said the POVA Curve 2 5G would be offered in Kenya for KES 44,999, reduced from its regular price of KES 55,999, for purchases made between 21 September and 31 October 2026.
Unconfirmed
Reported2026.10.19
TECNO and Safaricom enter a partnership to promote 5G smartphones[8]TECNO与Safaricom宣布下调POVA Curve 2 5G售价kenya-today.com
TECNO entered a partnership with Safaricom to promote 5G-enabled smartphones to Kenyan consumers.
2026.10.09
Reported2026.10.09
Safaricom launches managed SD-WAN service for multi-branch firms[9]Safaricom推出面向多分支企业的托管SD-WAN服务kenya-today.com
Safaricom introduced a managed Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) service aimed at medium-sized enterprises operating across several locations, bundling network management, equipment, security, maintenance and round-the-clock support under a fixed monthly fee. The entry-level price is Sh9,500 per branch per month on a 36-month agreement with no upfront hardware costs, with tiers Basic Plus, Standard Plus and Advanced Plus offered on 12, 24 or 36-month contracts.
2026.08.08
Reported2026.10.08
Safaricom launches managed SD-WAN service for multi-branch businesses from KES 9,500 a month[10]Safaricom推出面向多分支机构企业的SD-WAN托管服务，月费低至9,500肯尼亚先令techmoran.com
Safaricom launched a managed SD-WAN service that helps businesses connect multiple branches through one centrally managed network, with packages starting at KES 9,500 a month per branch on 12-, 24- and 36-month contracts. The service targets retailers, banks, manufacturers, distributors and healthcare providers operating across multiple locations, and includes equipment, software, maintenance and 24/7 support, with connectivity charged separately.
2026.08.01
Reported2026.10.19
Safaricom cuts M-Pesa fees for small businesses[11]Safaricom下调M-Pesa小型企业费用techmoran.com
Safaricom’s Pata More campaign reduced fees for small-business merchants using M-Pesa, including free customer payments up to specified thresholds and lower payout charges. The campaign runs through Oct. 31.
2022.03.22
Reported2022.03.22
Safaricom partners with Little and Makao on M-PESA Mini Apps[12]Safaricom与Little和Makao合作推出M-PESA迷你应用capitalfm.africa
Safaricom launched partnerships with Little and Makao to make their services available to M-PESA customers through Mini Apps in the M-PESA Super App.
2022.03.04
Reported2022.03.04
Huawei and Safaricom receive GLOMO award for DigiTruck project[13]华为和Safaricom凭DigiTruck项目获得GLOMO奖prnewswire.com
Huawei and Safaricom received the Global Mobile (GLOMO) Award for Outstanding Mobile Contribution to the UN SDGs in recognition of the TECH4ALL DigiTruck project.
2021.10.07
Reported2021.10.07
Google and Safaricom announce a partnership to develop affordable Android smartphones[14]Google与Safaricom宣布合作研发平价Android智慧型手机setn.com
Google said it would work with Safaricom to develop affordable Android smartphones for first-time internet users.

Sources35 sources

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