NAIROBI, Kenya — Safaricom PLC has announced that its mobile money platform M‑PESA has surpassed 40 million customers in Kenya as the service marks 19 years since its launch.
The telecommunications giant said the milestone highlights the continued role of digital financial services in expanding financial inclusion and enabling millions of Kenyans to manage their money securely.
Launched on 6 March 2007, M-PESA began as a simple person-to-person mobile money transfer service. Over nearly two decades, it has evolved into one of the world’s most widely used digital financial ecosystems.
Today, the platform supports payments, savings, credit, and business services used daily by households, traders, and corporations across the country.
“Our goal is to give Kenyans, and Africa at large, digital financial tools to empower them to be more prosperous,” said Peter Ndegwa, chief executive officer of Safaricom.
“Reaching 40 million monthly active customers in Kenya is a milestone we celebrate, as we recommit to enabling every Kenyan to transact safely, grow their savings, and build their wealth,” he added.
According to the company, M-PESA has expanded significantly beyond its original transfer service to include investment and credit products aimed at deepening financial access.
Among the services now integrated into the ecosystem are the money market investment product Ziidi MMF and trading platform Ziidi Trader, which allow customers to invest and grow savings directly from their mobile phones.
Credit services such as KCB M‑PESA and Fuliza provide short-term loans and savings tools designed to help users manage cash flow and build financial resilience.
For businesses, Safaricom has introduced merchant solutions including Lipa na M‑PESA, Pochi la Biashara, and Global Pay, which enable small and large enterprises to receive digital payments and conduct international transactions.
The company says these services have helped position M-PESA as a central pillar of Kenya’s digital economy, supporting millions of daily transactions across sectors ranging from retail and transport to agriculture and e-commerce.
The growth reflects a broader trend in East Africa where mobile money platforms have become essential infrastructure for financial services, particularly among populations that historically lacked access to traditional banking.
Analysts note that the widespread adoption of mobile payments in Kenya has transformed how individuals save, pay bills, access credit, and run businesses, making the country a global leader in mobile-driven financial inclusion.
As the platform approaches its third decade, Safaricom says it plans to continue expanding digital financial services while strengthening security and reliability for users.
