As 2025 draws to a close, M-PESA has marked a year of significant achievements, celebrating both its 18th anniversary and Safaricom’s 25th year. What began as a simple mobile money solution has evolved into a key driver of financial inclusion, innovation, and economic empowerment across Kenya and beyond. M-PESA’s journey in 2025 has been one of growth, resilience, and an ongoing commitment to enhancing the lives of millions. This year, the platform not only reached new milestones in terms of scale but also garnered industry recognition for its role in transforming financial services.
A Year of Growth and Milestones
M-PESA’s success in 2025 can be attributed to the platform’s expansion, innovation, and continued focus on user-centric improvements. By the end of the year, M-PESA had reached 37.9 million active customers, supported over 2 million businesses, and cultivated an ever-growing ecosystem of partners and developers.
Safaricom’s Chief Financial Services Officer, Esther Masese Waititu, outlined that the year’s success was due in large part to investments made under the company’s “Fintech 2.0” strategy, which centered on modernising M-PESA’s core infrastructure to improve security, scalability, and reliability. These investments have ensured that M-PESA remains at the forefront of mobile money and fintech solutions.
Industry Recognition and Accolades
2025 was also marked by several prestigious industry accolades, which underscored M-PESA’s continued leadership in the mobile money and financial services sectors. M-PESA was awarded the InsurTech of the Year at the African Insurance Awards, as well as the Nganya Award for Best Payments. The platform also received the Ecommerce Growth Partner Award from Visa, further solidifying its position as an innovative player in the fintech space.
At the Sanlam Awards, M-PESA was recognized as the Most Innovative Partner, cementing its role in transforming the financial landscape for individuals and businesses. These accolades reflect M-PESA’s commitment to innovation and its role in driving financial inclusion across the region.
Turning Financial Access into Tangible Outcomes
Beyond scale, 2025 was a year when M-PESA focused on turning financial access into meaningful outcomes for its users. Ziidi, M-PESA’s investment product, allowed customers to start investing with as little as KES 100, helping to break down barriers to wealth creation. This product has been particularly impactful in allowing users to build wealth from small, manageable investments.
For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), M-PESA’s Business Till Loans have provided access to working capital, supporting a growing merchant base of 2.4 million. Additionally, enhancements to Pochi, M-PESA’s mobile wallet solution, allowed merchants to save and invest directly from their wallets, boosting their ability to grow and sustain their businesses.
Expanding Insurance and Financial Protection
In 2025, insurance became a key pillar of M-PESA’s growth strategy. Recognizing the need for affordable and accessible financial protection, M-PESA introduced products like Tunza Mapato, which provides short-term income protection for informal sector workers, and Tunza Simu, an affordable device insurance offering to protect customers’ mobile phones.
These offerings play a critical role in helping customers manage financial shocks and protect their livelihoods, contributing to the broader goal of financial resilience and inclusion for underserved populations.
Community and Talent Development
M-PESA’s commitment to community development extends beyond financial services. In 2025, Safaricom continued to support national sports teams, including the Shujaa and Lionesses rugby sides, while partnering with the Junior NBA programme to promote youth development and financial literacy. This approach aligns with Safaricom’s broader mission to uplift communities and provide opportunities for the younger generation.
Moreover, Safaricom acknowledged the efforts of its internal teams, developers, agents, and technology partners in driving the platform’s growth and impact. The Daraja 3.0 developer platform continued to be a pivotal tool in enabling third parties to integrate payment and financial services into everyday consumer and business applications, further enhancing M-PESA’s ecosystem.
Looking Ahead: Building a Platform Nation
Looking towards the future, Safaricom envisions the next phase of M-PESA’s growth as a “platform nation”, focused on driving inclusion, resilience, and sustainable economic growth across Kenya and the broader region. The company has set its sights on leveraging technology and collaboration with regulators, banks, insurers, merchants, and technology partners to build a robust, inclusive financial ecosystem that caters to every Kenyan citizen, regardless of their socio-economic background.
M-PESA’s future will focus on further expanding its financial services offerings, scaling operations, and innovating to meet the evolving needs of a digital-first, financially inclusive society.
Conclusion
As Safaricom reflects on a milestone year in 2025, M-PESA stands as a testament to the power of innovation and financial inclusion. From expanding access to investment products and loans to launching groundbreaking insurance services, M-PESA continues to evolve, driving positive change for millions of users. The accolades received in 2025 highlight the platform’s success, and with a future focused on sustainable growth and national economic resilience, M-PESA’s next chapter promises to bring even greater benefits to Kenya and beyond.
