Eighteen years ago, in March 2007, Safaricom launched M-PESA, a mobile financial service that began as a simple money transfer tool in Kenya and has since grown into a global phenomenon. Today, on March 7, 2025, as M-PESA marks its 18th anniversary, it stands as Africa’s largest fintech solution, serving more than 70 million customers across over 170 countries. What started as a modest initiative has become a cornerstone of financial inclusion, empowering individuals and businesses with accessible, secure, and innovative financial tools.
Growth and Impact
M-PESA’s reach is nothing short of extraordinary. The platform now supports over one million businesses and agents across eight African nations: Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Ghana, and Egypt. With the capacity to handle 4,000 transactions per second, M-PESA processes nearly 100 million transactions daily—a testament to its scalability and reliability.
At its core, M-PESA’s success lies in its universal accessibility. By leveraging the ubiquity of mobile phones, the service has enabled millions to perform instant, secure financial transactions without the need for traditional banking infrastructure. Over the past two decades, its offerings have quadrupled, driving financial inclusion and contributing significantly to economic development across the continent.
Celebration
To commemorate its 18th anniversary, M-PESA has launched a series of nationwide activities designed to engage its vast ecosystem of stakeholders—customers, investors, communities, technology partners, employees, regulators, and the media. This campaign not only celebrates the platform’s achievements but also reinforces Safaricom’s commitment to delivering a safe, secure, and worry-free financial ecosystem.
Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, reflected on the journey: “Over the past 18 years, M-PESA has transformed the lives of millions, empowering them with useful and affordable financial services. With the rise of smartphone usage across the continent, we are transitioning into a digital financial services provider, connecting customers and businesses to opportunities and powering their growth through tech-driven solutions.”
Evolving with the Times
As smartphone adoption and 3G/4G broadband connectivity surge across Africa, M-PESA is evolving to meet the demands of a digital-first world. In 2021, M-PESA Africa introduced the M-PESA Super App, a game-changing platform that includes the M-PESA Business App. This feature allows businesses to create virtual storefronts and offer services through M-PESA Mini Apps, seamlessly integrating commerce and payments into one platform.
The Daraja platform, M-PESA’s developer hub, further underscores its technological prowess. Hosting over 100,000 developers and supporting more than 55,000 integrations, Daraja is a thriving ecosystem that fosters innovation and drives the creation of new financial tools tailored to users’ needs.
Ziidi Investment Platform
As part of its anniversary celebrations, Safaricom has unveiled the Ziidi Investment platform, featuring the Ziidi Money Market Fund. With over one million opt-ins already, this initiative taps into the convenience of M-PESA to offer customers a simple, fast, and smart way to invest and grow their wealth. Looking ahead, Ziidi plans to introduce Shariah-compliant investment options, broadening its appeal and aligning with diverse customer needs.
Esther Waititu, Safaricom’s Chief Financial Services Officer, emphasized the company’s forward-looking vision: “M-PESA’s future success will be rooted in its ease of use and seamless integration with other services and products, offering customers a comprehensive suite of financial tools at their fingertips. M-PESA represents the future of mobile financial services across the continent.”
What is next?
M-PESA’s journey over the past 18 years is a story of innovation, resilience, and impact. From enabling small-scale traders to send and receive payments to empowering businesses with digital tools, it has redefined what financial services can achieve in emerging markets. As it scales its platform to support additional digital services, faster product development, and greater stability, M-PESA is poised to remain a leader in the fintech space.
With a commitment to continuous innovation and a growing suite of products, M-PESA looks forward to celebrating many more milestones with its staff, customers, and partners. As Dr. Ndegwa aptly put it, M-PESA is not just a service—it’s a movement that connects people and businesses to opportunities, driving growth and prosperity across Africa.
Here’s to 18 years of transformation—and to the many more to come!
