Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC, speaking during the launch of the 14th sustainable business report at MJC on Tuesday
Safaricom PLC has reported a True Value of Kshs.1.1 trillion for the 2025 financial year, a figure 16 times greater than its financial profit. The milestone, revealed in the company’s 14th Sustainable Business Report themed “Anchored on Purpose, Accelerating a Digital Future”, underscores Safaricom’s growing economic, social, and environmental contributions over and above financial performance.
According to the report, Safaricom contributed Kshs.809 billion to Kenya’s GDP through its operations. The growth in True Value is attributed to the enhanced impact of M-PESA on customers, agents, and merchants, expanded Corporate Social Investment programs, as well as increased CAPEX and OPEX contributions.
True Value is a comprehensive measure that evaluates both positive and negative externalities created by business operations, helping companies align corporate and societal value, improve stakeholder relations, and foster resilient growth.
“Over the past 25 years, Safaricom has evolved into a purpose-led technology company guided by one simple mission: to transform lives by connecting people to people, people to opportunity, and people to information. At the heart of this journey is sustainability, embedded not as an obligation, but as a business imperative,” said Safaricom CEO, Dr. Peter Ndegwa.
Environmental Impact
In FY24/25, Safaricom planted over 830,000 trees and restored 694 hectares across eight counties, engaging more than 4,000 community members. Cumulatively, the company has grown 2.3 million trees against a target of 5 million by 2030.
The operator also fenced 15km of Kakamega Forest, achieved a 99 per cent recycling rate, and processed 190 tons of e-waste and 62 tons of plastic through M-PESA Green Points. Recognition came in the form of CDP A-list rankings for Climate Change and Supplier Engagement.
Social Contributions
Digital Inclusion: Smartphone penetration on Safaricom’s network rose from 22.93 million to 27.37 million users. Ownership grew from 44 per cent to 50 per cent, boosted by the Lipa Mdogo Mdogo device financing plan. Additionally, nine startups benefited from the Spark Fund Accelerator Programme.
Agriculture: Through DigiFarm, Safaricom disbursed Kshs.945 million in credit across 169,000 loans, with women receiving 36% and youth 17 per cent of the loans.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Safaricom achieved a gender split of 51 per cent male and 49 per cent female across staff, with women holding 45 per cent of senior leadership roles. Persons with disabilities account for 3.6 per cent of the workforce.
AI-driven personalized offers fueled a 15.2 per cent year-on-year growth in mobile data revenue and a 14 per cent increase in per-customer usage.
Governance Milestones
Safaricom earned ISO 2770 certification, the highest standard for Privacy Information Management Systems (PIMS), covering both GSM and M-PESA services. Governance transparency was enhanced through inclusion of IFRS disclosures alongside GRI standards.
The telco also recorded an 87 per cent reduction in fraud through AI-led detection of social engineering scams. On anti-money laundering, Safaricom flagged revenue flows linked to poaching, helping authorities identify and report 14 poachers to the Financial Reporting Centre.
As it marks 25 years, Safaricom says sustainability remains a central pillar of its strategy to deliver inclusive growth. “Now in our 14th year of publishing our Annual Sustainable Business Report, we continue to hold ourselves accountable, using the Sustainable Development Goals as our blueprint for impact,” Dr. Ndegwa affirmed.