More than 120 entrepreneurs from Kenya’s Rift Region gained vital digital and financial skills during the latest edition of the Grow with Safaricom Business forum held Thursday in Eldoret, July 18, 2025.
The event, themed Fueling financial growth through innovation, is part of Safaricom’s wider M-PESA @18 celebrations and aims to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with tools to digitize operations, expand their reach and grow sustainably.
The forum featured interactive sessions designed to equip business owners with the knowledge to leverage digital platforms, improve customer engagement, and boost operational efficiency.
“Through Grow with Safaricom Business, we are exploring frameworks that support real-world financial progress and sharpen business decision-making,” said Frankline Okata, acting chief enterprise business officer at Safaricom PLC. “We focus on technology, people, and knowledge to create tangible opportunities for business success.”
Since launching in March 2024, the initiative has reached more than 1,000 businesses across Kenya’s Coast, Nairobi, Greater Western, and Mt. Kenya regions.
Participants also engaged in peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, discussing digital marketing, financial tools, and strategies for scaling operations online. Safaricom emphasized its commitment to enabling businesses to succeed through tailored digital solutions and financial inclusion programs via its mobile platform M-PESA.
Safaricom, listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, serves over 49 million customers and contributes significantly to Kenya’s economy. Its fintech platform M-PESA supports over 34 million users and has driven financial inclusion in Kenya from 26.7% in 2006 to 83.7% in 2021. M-PESA generated more than KES 161 billion in revenue in FY2025.
As part of its sustainability goals, Safaricom has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and aims to reach gender parity in senior management by the end of 2025.
