Safaricom created KES 1.25 trillion in value for Kenyan society in the financial year ended March 2026, marking a 10 per cent increase from the previous year as the telecommunications company expanded digital services, financial inclusion and community investments.
The figure is contained in Safaricom’s 15th Sustainable Business Report, released in Nairobi on October 27, 2026, which highlights the company’s economic, social and environmental contribution through its operations, infrastructure investments and wider business ecosystem.
The report shows that affordability remained a key part of Safaricom’s strategy, with non-chargeable transactions accounting for 57.8 per cent of total M-PESA transaction volumes during the financial year.
The company said the move helped customers access digital financial services at lower costs, supporting participation in an increasingly digital economy.
“Our impact is measured not only by what we earn, but by the value we create for society. More than half of M-PESA transaction volumes attracted no customer charge, helping millions of Kenyans transact affordably and participate in an increasingly digital economy,” said Safaricom Group Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa.
M-PESA continued to play a central role in expanding access to financial services, allowing customers to transact, save, invest and access credit. The platform generated an estimated KES 478.1 billion in social value during the financial year.
Beyond its financial services, Safaricom supported more than 1.4 million jobs through its wider ecosystem, including M-PESA agents, dealers, suppliers and other business partners.
The company also expanded connectivity to support access to the digital economy, including introducing more affordable fixed-data packages. Of the 739,000 homes connected to its services, 8,200 subscribed to the KES 800 monthly bundle aimed at making internet access more affordable.
“As we grow into a technology company, we want every Kenyan to have the opportunity to participate in the digital economy. That means reliable connectivity, affordable access and the skills to use technology to improve their lives,” Ndegwa said.
4.4 million lives reached through community programmes
Safaricom’s social investment programmes, implemented through the company and the M-PESA Foundation, reached 4.4 million people during the year.
The initiatives covered healthcare, education, economic empowerment, access to water and environmental conservation, reflecting the company’s efforts to extend its impact beyond telecommunications and financial services.
The company also continued investing in environmental sustainability by expanding the use of renewable energy across its network infrastructure.
More than 2,000 network sites were powered by solar energy in FY26, up from 1,432 sites in the previous financial year. Its tree-growing programme also reached three million trees as part of its environmental conservation efforts.
However, Safaricom has further work to do on workplace inclusion. Persons with disabilities accounted for four per cent of its workforce, against a target of five per cent.
New sustainability reporting approach
The 2026 report marks Safaricom’s transition to a double materiality approach to sustainability reporting, assessing both the impact of its operations on people and the environment and how sustainability issues could affect its long-term business performance.
The framework considers issues such as climate change, fraud and cybersecurity, which can influence business resilience, customer trust and future growth.
Safaricom said the approach would help it prepare for mandatory sustainability reporting requirements in Kenya while strengthening transparency and accountability.
The company aims to achieve full compliance with applicable International Financial Reporting Standards sustainability disclosure requirements by the 2028 financial year.
“Our commitment is to create lasting value for our customers, communities, investors and the planet. As technology becomes more central to people’s lives, we have a responsibility to ensure that growth and innovation create opportunity, strengthen trust and leave society better off,” Ndegwa said.
The latest figures highlight Safaricom’s expanding role in Kenya’s economy, where mobile financial services, internet connectivity and technology-enabled businesses increasingly support livelihoods and access to essential services.
The company’s challenge will be to sustain this growth while improving affordability, expanding inclusion and managing the environmental and cybersecurity risks associated with an increasingly connected society.