Safaricom is moving beyond its core telecom business to build a broader digital ecosystem that includes financial services, artificial intelligence and an integrated super‑app, according to CEO Peter Ndegwa.

The company aims to transform M‑PESA from a simple money‑transfer service into a full‑suite financial platform that lets users pay, save, invest and purchase insurance.

Safaricom will also offer business‑focused tools that enable merchants to receive payments, settle supplier invoices and pay staff, positioning M‑PESA as a one‑stop solution for small and medium enterprises.

Artificial intelligence will be embedded in the platform to detect suspicious activity in real time, a necessity given the roughly 150 million daily transactions Safaricom processes.

Ndegwa highlighted that without AI and a robust data layer, manual fraud prevention would be impossible at the scale of Safaricom’s network.

The rollout will bring Safaricom into closer competition with banks and fintech firms, though the CEO stressed that these institutions will also act as partners in delivering services.

To support the expanding digital services, Safaricom is investing between $400 million and $500 million each year in network infrastructure across Kenya, ensuring reliable connectivity for mobile payments and data‑intensive applications.

The company’s “one app” super‑app, already launched in Kenya, will consolidate these offerings, using AI to personalise user experiences and streamline access to financial products.

Ndegwa said the next phase of growth hinges on scaling digital financial products, strengthening transaction security, and continuing infrastructure upgrades to meet the needs of households and businesses across Africa.