Safaricom CEO Statement on Launch of Mpesa Business Loans for MSMEs

Today, we unveil our revamped M-PESA Business Credit propositions; a product designed to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises by giving them access to credit.

We recognise the important role played by these bold entrepreneurs in our communities and across the economy. That's why we continue to find ways to support and empower this vital ecosystem.

Our journey with MSMEs began in 2013 with the launch of Lipa na M-PESA. We understood then that if we could equip small businesses with digital tools, we could unlock growth, trust, innovation, and transparency.

Fast forward to today, over 700,000 merchants use Lipa na M-PESA - from shopkeepers and boda boda operators to mama mbogas and wholesalers.

Lipa na M-PESA has transformed how small businesses operate - making payments safer, operations more efficient, and growth more achievable.

As M-PESA evolved, we expanded beyond payments - introducing digital lending and savings solutions that meet the real needs of our people.

We partnered with NCBA Bank Kenya to launch M-Shwari, and with KCB Group to deliver KCB M-PESA. Over the past decade, these platforms have disbursed over Ksh1 trillion in loans, supporting millions of Kenyans.

Today, nearly 40% of Kenya’s adult population has accessed mobile credit, many of them for the first time - helping to build financial resilience and unlock opportunity.

We also introduced Pochi la Biashara - giving individual business owners a simple way to separate their personal and business wallets, bringing more structure and growth potential to everyday hustles.

In 2023, we took our first step into business lending with the launch of Fuliza ya Biashara in partnership with KCB Group - an overdraft facility for Lipa na M-PESA merchants of up to Ksh400,000.

Today, we go even further.

We're introducing revamped Business Credit solutions built in partnership with KCB Group, Sidian Bank, DTBKenya and and Pezesha Africa - tailored for the traders, entrepreneurs, and small businesses that fuel Kenya's economy.

With Taasi Till and Taasi Pochi, small and informal businesses can now access credit from Ksh1,000 to 250,000, directly from their phones - no mountains of paperwork required.

We've also enhanced Fuliza ya Biashara with flexible repayment options, allowing businesses to repay in instalments without straining their cash flow.

Our mission is simple: to deliver credit that is affordable, accessible, and built for real business needs.