Shangwe @25 Finale: How Safaricom Turned Hustlers into Millionaires

Safaricom has announced the final five winners of Ksh 1 million each in its Shangwe @25 nationwide consumer promotion, bringing the total number of millionaires created through the campaign to 25.

The last winners are Quinter Akinyi Wanyama from Bungoma, Sheila Cherotich from Bomet, Fidel Mwendwa from Kitui, Geoffrey Mawira from Meru, and Grace Nyiva from Uthiru in Nairobi.

Beyond the million-shilling cheques, Safaricom added a community impact element that has helped the campaign stand out. Each of the winners received an extra Ksh 250,000 to support a community project of their choice, extending the benefits beyond individual households.

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the promotion was part of the company’s 25-year celebration and a way of rewarding customers for their loyalty.

“I am truly delighted to see how successful Shangwe @25 has been and the positive impact it has created for millions of Kenyans. We have created 25 millionaires, with more than five million customers nationwide winning prizes worth a total of KSh250 million,” said Ndegwa.

Safaricom said more than five million customers won different prizes during the promotion, with total giveaways valued at KSh250 million. The campaign was launched in October 2025 and featured a mix of rewards, including cash, electronics, household appliances, shopping vouchers, and even livestock.

Hustlers who won big

One of the most talked-about winners is Grace Nyiva, a 23-year-old single mother from Uthiru who sells smokies and sausages at the local market and also works as a cleaner at a nearby club to support her child.

Grace said the win felt like a miracle after years of financial struggle.

“I cannot really describe how happy I am. Life has been very difficult for my child. Even putting food on the table or paying school fees has been a struggle. I work two jobs just to survive,” she said.

“Out of millions of Kenyans, Safaricom found me here in Uthiru. It is God,” Grace added.

She said she plans to set up a cereal shop for her mother, pay her daughter’s school fees, and enrol in college to study IT. For her community project, she will use the KSh250,000 fund to support unemployed youth with salon and car wash equipment to help create income opportunities and reduce drug and alcohol abuse.

In Bungoma, Quinter Akinyi Wanyama, a 38-year-old mother of five who runs a welding workshop with her husband, said she initially thought the call was a scam.

“I use M-PESA for almost all my transactions. At first, I doubted the win, but now I truly believe because I am holding my cheque,” she said.

Quinter said she will buy new equipment, expand the welding business and pay school fees for her children, including one in university and another in high school. She will also support Mahanga PEFA School by purchasing lockers, teachers’ chairs and a printer using her community allocation.

In Bomet County, 21-year-old Sheila Cherotich, a sales agent selling M-KOPA phones at Chebunyo Centre, said the win gives her a chance to support her family in ways she has always hoped for.

“The Shangwe @25 win is not just a financial boost, it is an opportunity to transform my family’s future and make a lasting impact in my community,” Sheila said.

She said she plans to buy land and build a house for her mother, start a clothing and shoe business, and support her brother’s education. She will use the community fund to support a water project at Chebunyo Health Centre by installing water tanks.

In Kitui, 25-year-old mechanic Fidel Mwendwa Kavinya said the money will help him break out of employment and start his own workshop.

“As an orphan from a young age, I have faced many struggles. I never imagined that one day God would bless me with a million shillings at this age. This is truly life-changing for me,” he said.

Fidel said he will use the Ksh 250,000 community fund to support Timboni Tiva Children’s Home in Kitui County, focusing on improving the welfare of vulnerable children.

In Meru, Geoffrey Mawira Muguongo, a 52-year-old cobbler and shoe seller from Mujwa Village who also runs a barbershop, said he will expand his workshop and buy a shoe-making machine to create opportunities for more people living with disabilities.

He said his community project will support Mujwa traders by purchasing tents for hire, creating income opportunities at the local level.

Small businesses

Safaricom said the promotion also benefited enterprise customers, awarding six business clients stock valued at KSh250,000 each to strengthen operations and accelerate growth.

The beneficiaries include Peter Kamau of Snaap Kenya Limited, Alex Karanja of Robstar Premium Fit LTD, Ketan Patel of Ronak Distributors, Robert Nyakundi, Fredrick Miruka and Justin Kareri of EBee Mobility.

In addition, Leonard Oongo of Almervic Hardware, Alex Wasike of Ryattah Medical Centre, and Milenah Mwarashu of Nona Millz won Tuk-Tuk pickups to support business logistics.

Safaricom said the Shangwe @25 promotion was designed to reward customers as the company marked 25 years in operation, while also pushing a message of shared prosperity through both household wins and community-based projects.