Safaricom, Kenya’s telecom giant, has grown beyond its roots as a communication and mobile payment company. In an interview with Jeff Koinange, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa outlined the company’s latest strides under what he calls “Safaricom 3.0,” an ambitious mission to drive societal change through technology and innovation. With healthcare, agriculture, and digital infrastructure at the core of its new ventures, Safaricom is positioning itself as a purpose-driven technology leader for Africa. Here’s how Ndegwa and his team are tackling some of Kenya’s biggest challenges.
From Communication to Purpose-Driven Technology
Ndegwa started by setting the context: Safaricom began as a communication provider with a successful mobile payment platform, M-PESA. Today, it aims to be “Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company.” This shift means using technology not just to connect people, but to solve critical social challenges.
Safaricom’s current projects span across agriculture, healthcare, education, and financial services.
These initiatives, often in partnership with the Kenyan government, aim to digitize and improve access to essential services for millions of Kenyans.
Safaricom’s Role in Transforming Agriculture
One of Safaricom’s most impactful projects is in agriculture, where they are digitizing Kenya’s fertilizer subsidy program. Farmers can now access vouchers directly through a digital platform, simplifying the process of obtaining subsidies and ensuring they receive the resources they need.
Currently, 5 million farmers are registered on this platform, with over a million actively claiming subsidies. This digital system not only streamlines government services but also empowers farmers with direct access to crucial resources. Safaricom’s efforts in agriculture are all about creating a seamless digital experience for farmers, transforming how they interact with government services and building a bridge between the state and rural communities.
Healthcare for All: A Vision of Universal Access
One of the most ambitious projects Ndegwa discussed is Safaricom’s role in Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiative, specifically through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). This initiative seeks to provide healthcare access to all Kenyans, regardless of their location or economic status. Safaricom’s role? To digitize the entire process of healthcare access, making patient data portable across hospitals, whether public or private, so that patients can receive consistent care anywhere in the country.
Through partnerships with leading technology firms, Safaricom is setting up systems to allow all 6,000 public hospitals in Kenya to identify patients, manage claims, and access essential information in real-time. By providing healthcare workers with locally manufactured tablets and secure terminals, Safaricom is ensuring seamless connectivity across the healthcare system. This interoperability means that a patient’s records, treatments, and health insurance limits are available to doctors regardless of where they receive treatment.
Ndegwa emphasizes that while Safaricom provides the infrastructure and technical expertise, data ownership remains with the government. The company serves as a secure, cloud-native host for Kenya’s healthcare data, working to make this healthcare vision a reality over the next few years.
The Power of Partnership and Infrastructure
At the heart of Safaricom’s projects is its ability to bring together partners and deploy infrastructure on a massive scale. Working with companies like APHIRO, a global technology solutions provider, Safaricom is leveraging expertise from around the world to meet Kenya’s unique needs. With a robust connectivity network already established across the country, Safaricom is uniquely positioned to bring these projects to life by connecting hospitals, schools, and rural areas that lack digital access.
In healthcare, for instance, Safaricom has nearly completed the connection of all public hospitals to its network, allowing for real-time data exchange and better service delivery. For Safaricom, this goes beyond profit—it’s about empowering communities through sustainable infrastructure that transforms lives.
Safaricom 3.0: A Vision for Kenya’s Future
Safaricom’s vision of being a purpose-led company is driven by a strong belief that digital solutions can lead to tangible societal improvements. Under Ndegwa’s leadership, Safaricom 3.0 is about leveraging connectivity and digital innovation to tackle big challenges, from agriculture and healthcare to education and beyond.
As Ndegwa summarized, Safaricom’s goal is to be a catalyst for change, creating solutions that empower individuals and strengthen communities. By connecting Kenya’s critical sectors and ensuring they run on secure, resilient infrastructure, Safaricom is helping shape a future where technology and society move forward together.