M-Pesa — mobile money transfer service used for payments, remittances, and deposits across Kenya; subject of fraud schemes and merchant fee reductions by Safaricom.
… ties include making customer experience simpler and more personal, using artificial intelligence to serve customers better, expanding high-speed broadband and 4G and 5G coverage, and putting affordable smartphones into millions more hands, alongside the continued growth of M-PESA …
… t increased demand for artificial intelligence applications and solutions as consumers seek out cutting-edge technology that is becoming more affordable and versatile by the day.The telco's strategy is hinged on several key pillars, including financial services through its M-Pesa …
… er and bolder, borrowed from the US and part of Collin Powell’s doctrine. “If you must use American power, you must use it overwhelmingly.” South Africa has used its economic power overwhelmingly, not just to buy the banks but also to go into the financial payment system – M-Pesa …
… In a LinkedIn post published on Tuesday, Waititu reflected on her career journey from joining the then Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) as an analyst more than two decades ago to becoming the Chief Financial Services Officer of Safaricom, overseeing M-PESA, and the other telco's f …
… Leveraging existing infrastructure like M-Pesa, SACCO digital platforms, and mobile financial services, would allow members to make small, frequent contributions into dedicated health wallets or pooled insurance funds. …
… Kalonzo described Safaricom as a strategic national asset whose influence extends beyond telecommunications, citing its central role in Kenya's digital economy through M-Pesa, communications infrastructure, payments systems and public services. …
… Burns described Kenya as one of Africa’s foremost innovation hubs, crediting the country’s pioneering role in digital finance through M-Pesa and its growing leadership in artificial intelligence, financial technology, agriculture, healthcare and clean energy. …
… Burns said Kenya has emerged as one of Africa’s leading innovation hubs, citing the global success of M-Pesa and the country’s growing leadership in artificial intelligence, financial technology, clean energy, healthcare and agricultural innovation. …
Stablecoin settlement firm Minisend is expanding into Kenya to connect cryptocurrency-based payments with the country's mobile-money and digital payments infrastructure. The company has been named official payment partner for the Africa Blockchain Festival 2026, and its platform enables users to receive stablecoins such as USDC and USDT and settle funds through local financial channels including M-Pesa.
Stablecoin settlement firm Minisend is expanding into Kenya to connect cryptocurrency-based payments with the country's mobile-money and digital payments infrastructure. The company has been named official payment partner for the Africa Blockchain Festival 2026, and its platform enables users to receive stablecoins such as USDC and USDT and settle funds through local financial channels including M-Pesa.
President William Ruto is attending the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York to promote Kenya's investment agenda across energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, health, agriculture and technology. The government is pushing the proposed Sh2.2 trillion East Africa Refinery in Lamu, expected to create more than 60,000 jobs, with a planned groundbreaking set for September 30, 2026.
President William Ruto has departed for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he will champion increased investment in Africa, artificial intelligence, and reforms to the global financial system. He is expected to advocate for an "Africa-financing-Africa" approach leveraging the continent's over $4 trillion in domestic savings and assets to finance development.
Police in Garissa arrested Edwin Mugoi, accused of posing as a Safaricom agent to trick an M-Pesa shop attendant into surrendering a mobile line, which he then used to fraudulently transfer funds. Officers recovered multiple SIM cards, mobile phones, and registration gadgets suspected to have been used in the fraud scheme targeting M-Pesa agents in the area.
Live sports remain valuable assets for sustainable media globally. Kenyan broadcasters can use sports streaming to extend traditional TV and radio reach while developing new audience engagement and revenue models through mobile-centric consumption.
Two fourth-year university students charged with ten counts including conspiracy to commit a felony, possession and downloading of child pornography, and publication of child pornography have been denied bail by an Eldoret Court. Principal Magistrate Caroline Wattimah ruled against their release, citing concerns raised by the prosecution about the seriousness of the charges and their impact.
Samsung Electronics East Africa is promoting its Galaxy AI suite as a tool designed for content creators, students, and young professionals. The features include Circle to Search with Google, which allows users to identify and source items from social media by circling them on screen.
The Law Society of Kenya has vowed to oppose a proposal by the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority requiring lawyers to declare assets held on behalf of clients for more than five years and surrender them to the State if unclaimed. LSK President Charles Kanjama said lawyers have their own ways of managing client assets and do not need external assistance.
Three men aged 17 and 21 were arrested in Ruai for operating an anonymous TikTok page to lure women to secluded areas for robbery and sexual assault. The suspects forced some victims to transfer money via M-Pesa and robbed others of mobile phones and valuables.
Members of Parliament have called for an investigation into Safaricom's practice of deactivating dormant SIM cards and reassigning the numbers to other subscribers, citing concerns that the practice could expose customers to fraud, loss of funds, and unauthorized access to personal information. The petition, referred to the Public Petitions Committee, will examine whether the practice complies with consumer protection, data privacy, and financial asset management laws.
India is Kenya's third largest trading partner with bilateral trade of $4.31 billion in the financial year 2025-26, according to the India High Commission to Kenya. The article argues Kenya has not fully leveraged Indian proximity and economic power as a potential key trade and investment partner.
Global ticketing company Ticketmaster is entering East Africa through its Quicket platform, which offers digital ticketing, local payment integrations with M-Pesa, MTN Mobile Money, and Airtel Money, and global event distribution across Spotify, Google, Meta, Bandsintown, and Apple Music.
Major technology companies including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta are spending approximately Sh94 trillion on AI infrastructure this year alone, though only 39 per cent of organisations report measurable financial impact from AI investments, according to a McKinsey 2025 survey.
Safaricom PLC held a Pata More campaign event at Nakuru Railway Station Grounds to promote new services and offers to its more than 71.6 million customers in Kenya. CEO Peter Ndegwa said the nationwide campaign aims to deliver greater value through telecommunications and financial services, with a caravan expected to cover all 47 counties.
Web3 adoption in Africa is driven by practical financial benefits rather than cryptocurrency enthusiasm: faster, cheaper payments for remittances, farm supplies, and land ownership without middlemen. Sub-Saharan Africa received over $205 billion in on-chain value between July 2024 and June 2025, with Nigeria leading at $92.1 billion.
Kenya has pioneered digital innovation in Africa through M-Pesa, smartphones, digital banking and online government services, transforming how people learn, work, communicate and conduct business, though the article suggests these advances carry hidden social costs.
Pepeta has introduced a new Airtel Money Paybill Number (779900) for Kenyan players to deposit funds into their accounts, complementing its existing M-PESA payment option and providing a faster, more convenient deposit experience.
Samsung Electronics has partnered with local retailer Housewives Paradise to launch the Samsung Brand Store, a mobile-focused digital platform designed to reach Kenyan shoppers. The platform offers exclusive inventory, curated product bundles, and extended warranties to deepen customer relationships in a market with growing mobile internet penetration.
A diaspora perspective argues that Kenya has built credible foundations but sits in the lower-middle-income bracket and is not yet ready to achieve first-world living standards, which require high per-capita income, reliable utilities, functional healthcare, competitive education, low corruption, and functional infrastructure.
Safaricom has reduced charges on transferring funds from M-Pesa business tills to mobile wallets and Paybill numbers by as much as 50 per cent, effective 7 August 2026, aligning with Central Bank of Kenya pricing principles and providing relief for small traders and consumers.
Safaricom shareholders approved a final dividend of Ksh.1.15 per share for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, bringing the total annual dividend to Ksh.2.00 per share—the largest payout in the company's history. The announcement comes as Safaricom's share price rose 50.3 per cent during the year, lifting the company's market value to Ksh.1.10 trillion by March 31, 2026.
Safaricom is investing billions of shillings to embed artificial intelligence into its products and services across financial services, healthcare, content streaming, agriculture, and government payments, as part of a strategy to transition into Africa's leading AI-driven technology service provider by 2030.
Kenya's over 250 licensed digital credit providers have grown to a loan book exceeding microfinance banks' portfolios, with around eight million Kenyans using their phones for credit. Digital lenders assess borrowers on real-time behavioural signals and transaction patterns rather than historical documents, a method the article argues proves more effective than traditional credit committee approaches.
South African companies are increasing their stake in Kenya's financial sector through investments in NCBA, Safaricom, and Absa Bank Kenya, after previous retail ventures like ShopRite and Massmart failed in the market.
More Kenyan gamblers are moving to platforms licensed in Norway, drawn by what they describe as fairer odds, transparent terms, and tax-free winnings, reflecting awareness of regulation and player protection.
Esther Waititu, Safaricom's Chief Financial Services Officer, has spoken publicly following her departure announcement, saying "the time feels right for a new chapter" after nearly three years leading the company's financial services business, which includes M-PESA.
SACCO Societies Regulatory Authority data shows regulated saccos disbursed Sh2.79 billion in medical loans in Q1 2026, a 31 per cent increase from Sh2.13 billion in Q1 2025. This opinion piece argues the surge reflects weakened community safety nets and signals a troubling shift in the cooperative movement's role away from building economic resilience toward managing immediate healthcare crises.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticised the government's sale of a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom PLC to Vodacom as an "economic abduction," raising concerns over transparency, valuation, and constitutional compliance, and questioning why the sale was completed while a constitutional petition remained pending before the High Court.
The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi hosted a reception marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, bringing together Kenyan government officials, diplomats, and business leaders to celebrate shared democratic values, innovation, and trade partnerships.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has welcomed the Trump administration's shift in U.S.-Africa policy from aid-focused to trade and investment-driven, and said Kenya looks forward to concluding negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement with the United States.