Uber has launched a partnership with Kenya's largest telecommunications company, Safaricom, in a deal that is aimed enabling riders in Kenya pay for their trips through M-Pesa.

Uber says the deal with Safaricom will benefit the 20 per cent of Uber drivers who do not have bank accounts hence missing out on the opportunity to fully leverage digital trips.

“Through the integration of M-Pesa for trip payments, we are excited to bring the ease and convenience of mobile money to riders on our platform,” said Uber Head of East Africa Imran Manji.

He added, “We are pleased to have found a partner in Safaricom in order to take this significant step towards enhancing financial inclusion in the country.”

The deal comes after Safaricom partnered with UberEats to allow consumers to pay for deliveries via M-Pesa and delivery guys to also receive their earnings through the platform.

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“We entered into this partnership with Safaricom in order to enhance the experience for delivery people and eaters on our platform through ease of access to earnings and providing a convenient mode of payment for deliveries, respectively,” stated UberEats Kenya General Manager Kui Mbugua.

Safaricom processed 6.4 billion payments through the M-Pesa mobile payment platform in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, according to its latest audited accounts.

“This partnership with Uber will enable us to provide thousands of drivers and delivery people alongside millions of customers with a fully digital solution with faster, secure, affordable, and convenient payments through M-Pesa,” noted Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa.

He added: “We maintain a strong commitment to working with partners such as Uber as they enable us to deliver more value and opportunities to our customers in line with our purpose to transform lives.”

Data from Central Bank of Kenya shows total card payments in Kenya stood at 70 million for the same period, making M-Pesa the country’s most preferred means of cashless payments.