M-PESA Celebrates 18 Years Of Trust And Innovation With Ziidi Launch

From Sending Money To Building Wealth, M-PESA Now Gives You The Power To Grow Your Future

In a landmark celebration of its 18th anniversary, M-PESA, Africa’s leading mobile money platform, has once again proven why it remains the continent’s foremost fintech powerhouse. Since its inception in March 2007, M-PESA has redefined how people transact, save, borrow, and now, invest. The platform today serves over 70 million customers in more than 170 countries, with over 1 million agents and businesses spread across Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, DRC, Lesotho, Ghana, and Egypt.

To mark this milestone, Safaricom, M-PESA’s parent company, unveiled the Ziidi Investment Platform, an innovative leap into wealth creation. The launch of Ziidi Money Market Fund, already attracting over one million opt-ins, allows customers to grow their wealth with ease, speed, and convenience, directly from their phones. Even more impressive, Safaricom is set to introduce Shariah-compliant investment options, reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.

M-PESA’s impact goes beyond convenience, it’s about transformation. In just under two decades, financial inclusion in Kenya has skyrocketed from 26.7% in 2006 to over 83.7% in 2021, thanks largely to M-PESA’s wide accessibility and trustworthiness. With a staggering capacity of 4,000 transactions per second and nearly 100 million transactions processed daily, M-PESA is Africa’s largest fintech solution, anchored by a dynamic digital ecosystem and the Daraja API platform, which now hosts over 55,000 integrations and supports more than 100,000 developers.

The evolution continues. M-PESA is rapidly transitioning into a comprehensive digital financial services provider, driven by the surge in smartphone adoption and broadband penetration across the continent. The M-PESA Super App and M-PESA Business App are opening up new avenues for businesses, enabling them to operate virtual storefronts through Mini Apps, creating richer customer experiences.

“Our journey has always been about empowering lives,” said Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom. “As we celebrate 18 years of impact, we are focused on the future, connecting people and businesses to opportunities and growth through our tech-powered solutions.”

The celebrations are not just symbolic. Throughout the year, Safaricom will reward customers, communities, and partners across the country as part of its broader 25th birthday celebrations, reaffirming its pledge to a secure, worry-free financial ecosystem for all.

According to Esther Waititu, Safaricom’s Chief Financial Services Officer, “The future of M-PESA lies in its simplicity, seamless integration, and ability to provide a full suite of financial services instantly. M-PESA is not just a product, it’s a promise of possibility.”

As M-PESA looks ahead, this 18th anniversary is more than a milestone, it’s a launchpad for the future of finance in Africa. With cutting-edge innovations like Ziidi, enhanced integration, and expanding reach, the service is poised to continue transforming lives, one transaction, one investment, one opportunity at a time.

Ready to grow your wealth the smart way? Explore Ziidi on M-PESA today.

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