Safaricom’s impact on society grew 16 times in the six-month period ending September 30, 2024, the group CEO Peter Ndegwa has revealed.
Speaking during the release of the Half Year financial results on Thursday, November 7, 2024, Ndegwa revealed that the giant telco through the Safaricom and M-Pesa Foundations directly reached 35,178 people in 11 counties.
“We remain deeply rooted in the societies we operate in, driven by our purpose of transforming lives. Our commitment to the society remains at the core of our operations,” Ndegwa stated.
“During this period, our M-PESA and Safaricom Foundations continued to impact lives through various projects and partnerships. M-PESA Foundation continued to take healthcare close to the people through the bi-weekly medical camps. During the reporting period, 35,178 people were directly reached in 11 counties. People accessed general doctor consultation, child health consultation, women’s health services, fistula screening, dental and eye services and non-communicable disease screening and referrals. The Foundations also restored the dignity of 470 women with fistula in 14 counties.”
The impact was also felt in its new market in Ethiopia, where the telco provided several schools with free internet connectivity and supported various sports and music concerts across the country (Ethiopia).
“We recently supported schools in various parts of the country with free internet connectivity and supported various sports and music concerts across the country that resonate with Ethiopians. We have also joined the national green legacy initiative to support the country to build a greener and more sustainable Ethiopia through tree-growing programs,” Ndegwa stated.
This comes even as Safaricom marked 24 years of existence on October 23, 2024, with several success stories such as 5G connectivity, M-Pesa and initiatives such as Chapa Dimba.
“We look back at the achievements and lives that have been transformed and celebrate our customers for choosing us as their connectivity, digital and financial services providers. Reflecting on the success of Chapa Dimba, we will continue to support sports at various levels bringing communities together to cheer for their favourite teams and players in football, golf, and basketball, among others. We will also be acknowledging our partners who have supported our growth and helped in our promise to provide superior customer experiences. We look forward to the next 25 years of transforming not just in Africa but the world,” the CEO added.
Ndegwa revealed that the telco has secured a Ksh15 billion sustainability-linked loan, bringing the total loan facility to Ksh30 billion having announced the closure of a similar amount in the last year.
“As a sign of market confidence, we secured another Ksh15 billion Sustainability Linked Loan, bringing the total loan facility to KShs 30 billion having announced the closure of a similar amount in the last year. This funding will be channeled towards strategic and significant investments in technology and services which will enable us to unlock our ability to transform lives by elevating our ESG objectives,” Ndegwa stated.
Safaricom also supported Team Kenya in the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics through the sponsorship of Kenyan athletes and teams and the provision of financial wellness training.
Read: Safaricom Announces Ksh28.1 Billion Net Profit For 6 Months Ended September 30, 2024
