By Eddah Waithaka
Safaricom revealed a total societal impact of Ksh 1.1 trillion, according to its latest annual Sustainable Business Report, quantifying a contribution that vastly outpaces its direct financial results.
The 2025 report, released Tuesday, attributes this “True Value” to the widespread economic benefits of M-PESA and strategic corporate investments.
The telecommunications giant calculated that its operations contributed Ksh 809 billion to Kenya’s GDP.
The report defines “True Value” as a comprehensive measure of a company’s total economic, social, and environmental impact, capturing both positive and negative effects to guide more equitable business decisions.
In a statement, Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa said the company’s mission has been to transform lives through connection for the past 25 years.
“At the heart of this journey is sustainability, embedded not as an obligation, but as a business imperative,” Ndegwa stated. “Now in our 14th year of publishing our Annual Sustainable Business Report, we continue to hold ourselves accountable.”
Titled “Anchored on Purpose, Accelerating a Digital Future,” the report details how Safaricom leverages its technology to drive financial inclusion, enhance education, and improve healthcare.
The report card for the 2024/25 financial year showcased significant achievements across several sectors.
Environment
The company planted over 830,000 trees and restored 694 hectares of land across eight counties, engaging over 4,000 community members.
It achieved a 99% recycling rate, collecting and processing 190 tons of e-waste and 62 tons of plastic through its M-PESA Green Points initiative.
Safaricon also fenced 15km of the Kakamega forest to support conservation efforts.
Social & Digital Inclusion
Smartphone ownership on its network surged from 22.93 million to 27.37 million, with its Lipa Mdogo Mdogo plan driving ownership to 50% of its customer base.
Through its DigiFarm program, Safaricom disbursed Ksh 945 million in credit across 169,000 loans, with 36% of recipients being women and 17% youth.
The company uses AI to deliver personalized data offers, which fueled a 15.2% year-on-year growth in mobile data revenue.
Diversity & Governance
Safaricom maintained a near-equal gender balance across its workforce (51% male, 49% female), with women holding 45% of senior leadership positions.
The company earned the ISO 27701 certification, the highest standard for Privacy Information Management, underscoring its commitment to protecting customer data.
Its AI-driven fraud detection systems slashed fraudulent activities by 87% and even identified and reported 14 poachers by tracking associated revenue flows on M-PESA.
The report positions these sustainability metrics as core to Safaricom’s long-term strategy, demonstrating a shift from purely financial reporting to measuring its broader role in Kenya’s societal fabric.
