Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) are the backbone of Kenya’s economy, where they provide jobs to more than 80 per cent of the labor force and make up almost half of the country’s GDP.
In a situation where these entities are of great importance, they have been plagued by issues such as lack of financing, unstable connectivity, and limited access to the market. Safaricom Business, the enterprise arm of Safaricom, is reshaping the situation by delivering digital, financial, and technological solutions that MSEs need to succeed.
Connectivity as the Foundation for Growth
The digital transformation of Kenya’s MSEs is through Safaricom’s extensive network infrastructure. Covering more than 10,000 km of fibre and 5,300 4G LTE sites, more than 286,000 enterprise customers of which 105,000 are MSEs and SOHOs, now have access to reliable internet.
Various programs such as Fibre for Business have helped over 2,000 SMEs in more than 1,400 buildings to be connected in different areas; as a result, these businesses can now handle inventories and meet customers online.
Moreover, data bundles like Easy 50GB and 30GB plans make the use of data cost-effective. The Ready Business Index indicates that ICT adoption, facilitated by Safaricom tools, is at a very good level of 54/100, thus enabling productivity and diversification.
Financial Empowerment Through M-PESA Innovation
With the help of Safaricom’s fintech solutions, small businesses have changed their money management ways. Pochi la Biashara acts as a business account where money flows are separated, meanwhile, the M-PESA Business App helps in easy transaction tracking. Lipa Na M-PESA has made digital payments widespread in Kenya, thus making them easy to trace and reach more people.
The newly enhanced Fuliza Biashara allows immediate overdrafts from KSh 1,000 to 400,000. It’s meant to provide more than 538,000 MSEs with instant access to funds, while NGO collaborations and bank partnerships like that of Hand in Hand Eastern Africa and KCB Biashara Smart have together led to the disbursement of more than 12 million KSh in microlending and the creation of 10,000 jobs being secured.
Leveraging Cloud, IoT, and Innovation for Scale
Not only that, but Safaricom is also preparing MSEs for tomorrow through cutting-edge technology. It collaborates with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to offer cheap cloud services, data saving as well as solutions to get over crisis, and it is supported by 130 AWS-certified specialists.
Real-World Impact: MSEs on the Rise
Adrian Kenya has gone through the transformation process from merely being a local supplier to becoming a continental IT service provider; Ellams Products doubled its production potential; and Top Image Africa grew their creative services massively – all of these achievements were made possible by leveraging Safaricom’s digital ecosystem. Masoko e-commerce vendors are 64 per cent SMEs. Hence, Safaricom is still leading the way in promoting formalization, inclusion, and sustainable enterprise growth.
Toward a Digital and Sustainable Future
CEO Peter Ndegwa has Safaricom aligning its MSE strategy with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the company’s commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The firm, which mixes connectivity, fintech, and innovation, is doing more than just helping out small businesses; it is also a major player in Africa’s economic renaissance.
Without the Safaricom Business, MSEs would not just be struggling and it would turn out that the firm is not only giving them support but also a new way of how they can grow, compete and survive in Kenya’s digital economy.