M-Pesa, the mobile financial service operated by Safaricom, has marked 18 years since its launch in March 2007, solidifying its position as Africa’s leading fintech platform.

With a presence in more than 170 countries, the service now serves over 70 million customers and facilitates nearly 100 million transactions daily.

Over the years, M-Pesa has expanded its reach, operating in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Ghana, and Egypt.

The platform has also grown to support over one million businesses and agents, with its Daraja platform integrating more than 55,000 solutions and hosting over 100,000 developers.

Its transaction processing capacity currently stands at 4,000 per second.

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Reflecting on this journey, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa underscored how M-Pesa has transformed the financial landscape by offering accessible and affordable services while shifting towards digital financial solutions.

“In the last 18 years, M-Pesa has transformed the lives of millions of customers, empowering them with useful and affordable financial services," Ndegwa remarked.

"With increasing smartphone usage across the continent, we are transitioning to be a digital financial services provider connecting customers and businesses to opportunities and powering their growth through our tech-powered solutions."

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Safaricom has unveiled Ziidi Investment, a platform aimed at helping customers grow their wealth through digital investments.

The initiative includes the Ziidi Money Market Fund, which has already attracted over one million opt-ins, with plans to introduce Shariah-compliant investment options.

Safaricom’s Chief Financial Services Officer, Esther Waititu, highlighted the company’s strategy of enhancing M-Pesa’s capabilities to support more digital services and improve stability and reliability.

“M-Pesa’s future success will be based on its ease of use, and its seamless integration with other services and products to give customers a comprehensive suite of financial services at their fingertips," Waititu stated.

"M-Pesa represents the future of mobile financial services across the continent."

With the increasing adoption of smartphones and broadband technology, M-Pesa has continued to evolve beyond mobile money.

In 2021, it launched the M-Pesa Super App and the M-Pesa Business App, allowing businesses to operate virtual storefronts through Mini Apps.

As Safaricom commemorates 18 years of M-Pesa, it is reaffirming its commitment to innovation, security, and financial inclusion, promising to shape the future of digital payments across Africa.