Safaricom Celebrates 19 Years of M-PESA as Service Hits 40 Million Monthly Users

Safaricom PLC has marked 19 years since the launch of M-PESA, announcing that the mobile money platform has reached 40 million monthly active customers in Kenya, a milestone the company says reflects the growing role of digital financial services in everyday life.

The telecommunications firm said the figure represents millions of daily transactions carried out by individuals, businesses, and institutions across the country, underscoring M-PESA’s transformation from a simple money transfer platform into a broad digital financial ecosystem.

Safaricom noted that each transaction represents a real-life story of economic participation — from parents paying school fees and small businesses receiving payments through services such as Pochi la Biashara, to young investors accessing the stock market via the mobile trading platform Ziidi Trader.

According to the company, the milestone reflects its shift toward what it describes as “Fintech 2.0,” where the platform supports broader financial wellness rather than just money transfers.

Among the services driving this transition are the overdraft facility Fuliza, cross-border payment solutions such as Global Pay, and digital investment tools designed to expand access to capital markets.

Safaricom said these innovations are aimed at enabling Kenyans not only to transact, but also to save, invest and grow their businesses through digital channels.

With the growing number of users, the company said it has intensified investments in technology infrastructure and fraud prevention systems to safeguard customer funds and personal data.

Safaricom noted that strengthening digital security has become a priority as mobile money continues to play a central role in Kenya’s financial system.

Safaricom Group Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa said the company is recommitting itself to expanding opportunities for financial inclusion.

The firm aims to continue leveraging technology to help individuals and businesses build wealth as it pursues its broader ambition of becoming Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030.

Safaricom also thanked its customers, agents and partners for supporting the growth of the platform over the past 19 years, describing them as the driving force behind what it calls the “M-PESA Nation.”

Launched in 2007, M-PESA has become one of the world’s most successful mobile money services and remains central to Kenya’s digital economy, facilitating billions of shillings in transactions each day.