Kenya’s telecom giant Safaricom celebrated reaching 50 million users on Thursday as it celebrates 25 years of innovation, expanding rapidly into Ethiopia with over 10 million customers and aiming to lead Africa’s digital future.
The company’s year-long customer engagement campaign, which began last year and will culminate in its 25th anniversary celebrations in October 2025—which will mark a quarter century of innovating around customer needs, transforming lives, and creating inclusive digital and financial ecosystems across Kenya—is partially responsible for this accomplishment.
“We are honoured by the trust that over 50 million Kenyans have placed in us. This milestone reflects the deep connection we have built with Kenyans over the past two and a half decades, and as we approach our silver jubilee, we recommit ourselves to always being a force for good and creating what’s next for our customers,” said Dr. Peter Ndegwa, Group CEO, Safaricom PLC.
Impact of Safaricom’s M-Pesa Sokoni and Sambaza Furaha
Safaricom has increased its emphasis on customer experience and engagement over the past year. Programs like M-PESA Sokoni and Sambaza Furaha have enabled the company to “say thank you” and bring happiness and services closer to customers nationwide.
The story of modern Kenya, one of innovation, resiliency, and advancement, is intricately woven with Safaricom’s journey, which began in 2000 with just 17,000 customers and currently serves over 50 million.
In addition to Kenya, Safaricom has effectively extended its business operations to Ethiopia, where it recently celebrated a noteworthy milestone by surpassing 10 million customers as of July 2025. By 2030, Safaricom wants to be the top purpose-driven technology company in Africa, and this quick expansion into a new market supports that goal.
“Our journey has always been about putting customers first, and this achievement is a direct reflection of that dedication. Looking ahead, our next chapter will be about deepening impact, personalising customer experiences, and driving Kenya’s digital transformation agenda,” added Dr. Ndegwa.
M-PESA: Safaricom’s success story
M-PESA, which has developed into a comprehensive digital financial ecosystem, is one of the revolutionary innovations that Safaricom has pioneered since it started operating.
The company has also made significant investments in connectivity, bringing high-speed internet to homes and businesses and being a pioneer in the development of 3G, 4G, and 5G networks.
Safaricom’s impact on Kenya’s social and economic development
Beyond financial services and connectivity, Safaricom remains vital to Kenya’s social and economic advancement.
The company maintained over 1.28 million jobs in Kenya and contributed KES 722 billion to the country’s economy in the most recent fiscal year. Additionally, community projects implemented through the program have benefited over 8 million Kenyans.
Access to healthcare, education, and opportunities for economic empowerment are still being pushed by the Safaricom and M-PESA Foundations.