Safaricom has responded to reports of some customers not receiving M-Pesa transaction messages. The company identified the issue as affecting Android users with third-party messaging apps set as default.
“Dear Customer, We have noted that some of our customers are not receiving messages from Safaricom and/or M-Pesa. This issue is affecting customers with Android phones who are using third party SMS apps,” Safaricom stated.
Key Points
Problem: M-Pesa transaction messages not reaching some users.
Cause: Using third-party messaging apps as default on Android phones.
Solution:
Check spam and blocked folders for Safaricom messages and unblock them.
Switch to the default messaging app for receiving M-Pesa notifications.
“Open your SMS app and check the Spam & Blocked folder. Find a Safaricom and M-PESA message and unblock it. All subsequent messages will go to the main inbox. Additionally, customers using Android smartphones can select the default SMS app as it does not have a spate folder,” Safaricom added.
Several days ago, Safaricom also experienced a technical hitch with M-Pesa, which affected a lot of businesses in the country.
Kenya’s telecommunications giant, Safaricom, faced widespread customer frustration on January 9th due to nationwide delays affecting its popular mobile money platform, MPESA. Users took to social media, particularly Twitter (X), to voice their concerns and seek an explanation for the unexpected service disruptions.
MPESA Delays Cause Daily Disruptions
Customers reported experiencing delays and difficulties with various MPESA transactions, including sending and receiving money, paying bills, and topping up airtime.
These issues posed significant inconvenience, particularly for individuals and businesses who rely on MPESA for daily financial activities and cashless transactions.
Cashless Society Impacted
Kenya’s growing embrace of cashless transactions has made MPESA an essential tool for many Kenyans, impacting financial interactions, bill payments, and even daily purchases like bus fare.
The sudden delays disrupted these workflows, leaving users frustrated and stranded in some cases.
Safaricom Responds to Customer Outcry
Facing a barrage of tweets expressing discontent and demanding answers, Safaricom acknowledged the MPESA delays and apologized for the inconvenience.
The company assured customers they were working diligently to resolve the issue and promised further updates through their official channels.
It is my first time in Nanyuki town. The last two days si nimeona mambo? Suddenly, nimejua the meaning of the phrase ‘Wueh!’
It’s a pleasant little town that welcomes you in a massive bear hug but still holds back. It reminds me of running home in the rain and banging on my grandmother’s kitchen door. I’m soaked to the skin, loved and welcome, but not so fast, Sonny! There’s no way she’ll let me in dripping wet and muddy.
Enjoy the heat and the tantalizing smell of food from the doorstep till I can get my ducks in a row. Now, that’s how Nanyuki feels to me.
As a personal rule when in a new town, I steer clear of hotels or places with a star rating. I’m always after its vibe, heart and soul. This spirit thrives in the dark, litter-strewn back alleys where locals and ordinary folks live.
Nanyuki has the best on both fronts. She has classy, five-star places that serve breakfast with little towels soaked in steaming water on balconies overlooking lawns and grazing horses. The stories here are too formal. I prefer the other side with politically incorrect stories.
Lakini, nimeskia sana story za Nanyuki. I should have been afraid. But, self-confidence ni nini? I thumped my chest up: Ah, si nimekuwa places bwana. I did just fine in hungrier cities.
Sunday afternoon, I left my BnB and wandered downtown. In this context, it means getting to the fifth or sixth streets that circle the CBD. Nanyuki and Mombasa are similar – they have two major avenues running across. I wander around till I stumble into a small alley that sounds like a concert is in play. Music from different places merges.
There’s a row of little joints with comely names above the doors: Kwa Nyambu, Kwa Monica and so on. Each doorway hangs those ingenious blinds made from colourful plastic bottle tops. Ah, nice. Hizi sasa ndo base zangu. I start with Kwa Monica, I like the name. I stride in like the main actor in a Mexican action movie.
It’s a little dark, my eyes need a minute. There are three long tables with branded plastic sheets, and plastic chairs stacked in two’s. There’s a gigantic TV in a cage above the counter that’s reinforced with iron bars. A past La Liga match is streaming. I see a ‘Free Wifi’ poster. Great. A few patrons silently watch me. A girl emerges from the counter.
As soon as the girl gets close, I ask loudly so that the patrons hear.
“Sasa Sister, kwani Nyambu alienda wapi?”
I take off my denim jacket and drape it over the next seat. I’m trying to relax like a sort of regular. Eight out of ten times – every other joint in Kenyan towns has had a girl named Nyambu running it. Check that out.
Someone on the other table beats her to the answer.
“Ah, Nyambu?! Unajua Nyambu? Alas, bro….huyo alienda Christmas hakurudi” A guy shouts, rises and grabs the next seat. It has my denim jacket draped on it.
“Mi naitwa Abdalla…” he says, extending a hand. I fist bump instead.
I ask for a soft drink and point to my now-friend Abdalla, who asks if he would like a drink. Of course, he would. In less time than you can say Timbuktu, Abdalla is reeling off the particulars of this town better than any guide you’ll meet in the 5-star places.
Immediately, two things are clear. One, I’ve hit the jackpot – Abdalla is a terrific storyteller. Two, I’d be staying longer in Nanyuki.
Abdalla tells me about himself. He’s a coastal native but he’s been around for give or take three decades. I doubt he’d remember his Msambweni village well. But, granted the man has lost little of his people’s famed storytelling skills. It gets better the merrier he gets. If he’d gone to college, he would have made a terrific radio morning show host. He invites his friends.
I’d ask Abdalla some random crazy stuff.
Like, in Msambweni, has he ever bumped into a night runner?
The story’s build-up would be as exciting as the story itself!
Abdalla would lean back like he had spent a lifetime studying a congregation of night runners. I was hooked. Sunday afternoon passed quickly. The joint started filling up towards evening. It started getting chilly, too. A lot of locals are rocking those checked Maasai Kikoi’s. Nanyuki is hot by day, and chilly by night.
I reach for my denim jacket. Wueh! No trace. It had disappeared. I cannot answer the how-when-and-with-who. Suddenly, I realised that I had not received a call that entire afternoon. My backup Kabambe phone was in the jacket, along with Ksh70 in coins. Luckily, my smartphone had run out of charge and left charging at my BnB.
Wueh! Wacha Abdalla aanze kuzusha. It was total mayhem.
Inwardly, I knew I’d never get my jacket, phone and money back no matter the ruckus that we raised here. He knew it too. I had no other money on me – and, I still had a bill to clear. We had a running total of Ksh1350.
I had my wallet in the back pocket with only my ID card. I never carry cash when travelling. It’s too risky. I used to carry my Co-op Bank Visa Card. Lately, the bank’s mobile banking app – Mco-opCash – has usurped all the need for cash or ATM, including withdrawals.
Abdalla walks me to a Safaricom agent shop four doors down from Mama Monica’s. I needed to replace my lost SIM card. I did not have any money in my MPesa account, but I knew I could still access my Coop Bank account via Mco-opCash.
I had the Mco-opCash app on my Android phone, but I had lost the sim card. Even if I replaced the SIM card, I’d still have to visit a Co-op Bank branch to activate and link it to the app. I had one option: To replace the SIM card and access Mco-opCash through the USSD code *667#.
Half an hour later, we returned to Mama Monica’s. I borrowed a handset from the waitress and inserted my replaced Safaricom sim card. I dialled *667# to access Mco-opCash account and made a transaction withdrawal to my MPesa account. That’s the beauty of Mco-opCash.
If your phone gets lost, you can replace the SIM card and access your account. I’ll find time to visit a Co-op Bank branch to reactivate my new sim card and link it to the Mco-opCash app.
Nanyuki imenionyesha maneno. But I live by the adage that everything is either a win or a lesson.
I’ll still stick around. I’m still very hooked on Abdalla’s stories.
Safaricom has announced that it will be carrying out scheduled maintenance on its M-Pesa platform on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21. The maintenance will take place from midnight to 6am on both days.
During the maintenance period, some M-Pesa services will be unavailable, including:
Lipa na M-Pesa
M-Pesa B2B and B2C
M-Pesa Organisation portal
M-Pesa global
M-Pesa App
M-Shwari
Hustler Fund
Fuliza new limit allocation
Other M-Pesa services, including voice, data, and SMS, will be available as usual.
Safaricom has apologized for any inconvenience the maintenance may cause and thanked its customers for their support.
The maintenance is being carried out to support innovation and growth in customer demand. It is also part of Safaricom’s ongoing efforts to improve the security and reliability of its M-Pesa platform.
Safaricom is the leading mobile money provider in Kenya, with over 30 million active M-Pesa customers. The company has been at the forefront of mobile money innovation in Africa, and its M-Pesa platform is used by millions of people across the continent to send and receive money, make payments, and access financial services.
The scheduled maintenance is a necessary step to ensure that Safaricom’s M-Pesa platform continues to meet the needs of its customers. The company has taken steps to minimize the impact of the maintenance on its customers, and it has apologized for any inconvenience that may be caused.
The tired phrase “We’ve known each other a long time” is not a good reason to stay friends with someone.
In a way, you never end a friendship, the friendship fizzles out by itself – a slow, agonizing death.
It’s a thorn that has been pricking flesh for eons – testing family ties, business and ruling alliances.
So much, that Aristotle would pen a candid essay titled “On Friendships”, that tables a 3-pronged ‘friendship-meter’ system:
Friends hanging out in the hood (file image)
Pleasure Friendships:
This kind is fickle, superficial. These are the people in your gang – often meet up at the local for a fun drink or the mbogi that call you for the soccer derby.
This group will easily pool resources for an odd roadtrip out of town – but, not pool resources to pay a member’s hospital bill.
But, they hardly know your family, kids or what business you do – if you are in business.
If you don’t turn up for Karaoke Wednesday, and miss a couple more – they’ll move on without as much as a call.
Useful Friendships:
Well, this is based on material benefits. It may be work-based, same employer. It may be business-oriented, same business circles.
It’s loosely principled on money, special favors – perhaps, you work in a firm that offers periodic gifts or vouchers that someone leeches off.
This suffers a blow, when one of the parties is no longer as useful. Do not invest emotionally in it.
Virtuous Friendships:
It’s ideally grounded by a common desire for good, and prosperity. It’s all rounded – family, business – and often generational. College friendships may grow on, to form family-level bonds.
However, when the friendship cookie starts to crumble, it leaves a bigger emotional mess in its wake.
The secret for longevity lies in making efforts to nurture it. There are tell-tale signs, however, when a friendship has outran its viable phase.
Here are two common reasons most friendships die a slow death:
Social Status
Friendships are built around social circles. A promotion at work may come with a sudden change of income. A friend moves into an upscale neighborhood, hanging spots……
Slowly communication starts to fade and die out. Little effort is made to call, meet or share an evening as you used to.
If a friend starts to miss important family dates or events you previously marked, well – that’s a sign.
Communication
This is crucial in a friendship. Tight friends are usually up on each other’s call logs, social media timelines and frequent meet-up’s.
Theme nights are a thing – Karaoke, Fun Fridays….. then, it dies out.
When you try to call or chat, the other is busy, or driving, or cooking – and, can they call you later?
That ‘Call you Later, Bestie’ happens a few weeks down the line. You are alone in that friendship.
Well, it’s apparent that communication nurtures the bond in every friendship. It matters, too, how heavily friend banter weighs down on their respective budgets.
Presently, this needn’t bite to reach a fiend for some juicy grapevine – thanks to the timely Nyoosha Shilingi factor.
Communication is now much cheaper.
Nyoosha Shilingi is a brainchild of leading communication provider Safaricom to help their clients navigate harsh economic times with more on offer (calls and data) for the same amount.
Simply put, for the same price, Data, Calls and SMS offers are extended by between 40% and 100%.
Nyoosha Shilingi has made using Whatsapp, for audio and video calls a viable option. For offline friends, regular calls are asking for much less in billing.
For example, Safaricom has introduced All-in-One packages. There’s a choice of three. Well, say – Ksh550.
Initially, this would get 1.5GB+100 min+500 SMS+Free WhatsApp, but with the Nyoosha Shilingi rate, users now enjoy 2GB+100 min+500 SMS+Free WhatsApp.
More fun video calls for friends wishing to stay in touch.
The new data rates have hit really well with the youth, on daily, weekly and monthly bundle packages.
For example, the Daily bundle at Ksh10 now fetches 35MBs and 15 SMS, up from the previous 15MBs and 15 SMS. It also lasts longer!
On weekly data package rates, Ksh99 would fetch 350MB and Free WhatsApp but Nyoosha Shilingi presents an incredible 500MBs and Free WhatsApp!
The best on monthly packages is with Ksh1000 coming with 7GB+Free WhatsApp, up from the previous 5GB and Free WhatsApp.
Nyoosha Shilingi is available to all Safaricom users – Prepaid, Postpaid and Hybrid. It’s normal play in the purchase of the bundles, through Mpesa, airtime cards and redeeming Bonga Points.
There’s more on offer. Easily check the offers by dialing *544#, through My Safaricom App, Blaze App and official Safaricom website.
It’s time to indulge yourself by streaming your favorite series!
It was fun learning colors back in elementary school. Remember belting out that catchy tone “Richard Of York Gained Battle In Vain“? That’s to name the color spectrum on the rainbow, from the red at the top to violet at the bottom.
All good. Except, the basic spectrum mutated into a thousand other variations that makes color identification an impossible exercise.
Kenyans are generally poor with colors.
I have suffered on my delivery runs for orders made from my online business. I sell second-hand kids clothing from my house. Online business model is great, and the weakest part in that chain is the human factor.
Delivery is a total nightmare, if you remember that Kenyans also share a collective inability to give directions properly. In a day’s work, expect a mix of hilarious and equally frustrating experiences.
My business has pages on all social media pages, but activity is highest on Facebook and Twitter pages. On a daily basis, I take photos of clothes available with my phone at different angles, and upload. From my page, I share the posts on other Facebook pages and groups for more visibility.
I log into Twitter, check top trends of the day and tag along. On average, depending on the day of the week, and date – I engage with a different number of clients. There are direct referrals by past clients, and general queries. I spend six to seven hours online every day, engaging with clients.
If you’ve ever tried to fish, this is it. The item is the bait, but – will the clients bite? Out of 10 possible clients making an inquiry, 5 will ask the price of the item, and go silent. Three will ask possible date for the next ‘Bale Opening’, and so on.
Two out of 10, will make an order, and pay. I have a Safaricom Till Number displayed on the page. Now comes the delivery part. I deliver free within town, and a small fee out of town. I live in Nyeri.
Client 1: Kuja tu na Kimathi Street. Hapo kati kati kuna junction ya Waridi Supermarket. Chukua hio njia. Utapata shop ya viatu imepakwa green karibu na taa ya tatu ya Mulika Mwizi... (I’m on a green-painted shoe shop on a road off Kimathi Street, at the Waridi Supermarket Junction).
Well, I find out it’s a four-way junction and each of those roads has a series of County Council floodlights. I’m lost. When I later find the shop, it’s not green-painted, it’s mint. Close.
Client 2: I’m a teacher at St.Michael Preparatory School, on the end of Koinange Avenue. I’ll meet you, I’m in a red top.
Easy, right? Teachers are precise and articulate. Wrong, they are Kenyan! First, there’s no Koinange Avenue, and worse, the school has a plethora of branches. The teacher is in a maroon top!
All these cases mean a great deal of to-and-fro with clients. Mercifully, most of my clients are on WhatsApp, so there’s a bit of online calls and chats. Sometimes, the clients are offline. It’s down to regular calls on Safaricom.
In the beginning, calling and data rates would eat heavily into profits. It took a while to break even, but lately its easier with Nyoosha Shilingi, the new Safaricom data and calling rates plan. I’ve even started video calls with clients. Kids are now more proactive in choosing colors and styles of their clothing.
It’s easier with online video calls, which means no returns and more referrals from happy clients.
Safaricom has activated Nyoosha Shilingi, timely offer that shields their clients in the present harsh economic times with new and revamped data bundles. For the same price, Data, Calls and SMS offers are extended by between 40% and 100%.
This means, unlike before when I’d use Ksh20 to buy 50MBS, now the amount fetches me 100MBS. That’s double!
What’s better is that the data doesn’t run in the middle of a clients call. It’s not as rushed as before!
Since I’m a daily internet user, I prefer daily data packages. I’m now purchasing 300MBs daily bundle, for just Ksh50. Previously, this would buy just 150MBs. I usually purchase data plans from MPesa, though – one can still purchase bundles by loading airtime or redeeming Bonga Points.
I have clients who prefer the weekly package, of which Ksh99 gets 500MBs, instead of the usual 350MBs. That’s an almost 50% increase.
Clothes move more when school closes, so I expect more client engagement. I’m budgeting for the Nyoosha Shilingi offer of 2.5GB+Free WhatsApp for Ksh500 bob, so that I don’t need to log out between sessions.
All Safaricom customers: Prepaid, Postpaid and Hybrid can access new Nyoosha Shilingi data plans.
There’s more really, on offer on the Safaricom website. Some good deals. What wouldn’t you stream on the 7GB+Feee WhatsApp bundle? It’s just Ksh1000. It’s time to chill and watch a movie after work!
Only specific bundles come with free WhatsApp. It’s easy to check the new data plans. Just dial *544#, *555#. Also, plans are displayed on My Safaricom App, Blaze App and on the official Safaricom website – www.safaricom.co.ke/bundles.
It’s a whole new experience on Safaricom’s seamless network.
Pro Tip: It’s always a better experience with your gadget if their apps and software is up to date. The new data plans are ideal for this purpose. There will be plenty of leftover data for fun!
The private sector has urged for co-operation with the public sector, media and civil society to find long-term drought mitigation measures.
The sentiments were made during the launch of the ‘Pamoja Tuungane’ campaign aimed at rallying Kenyans to support those suffering from the effects of the prolonged drought.
During the event, Safaricom PLC and M-PESA Foundation flagged off foodstuff worth over KES 100 million shillings to be distributed to some of the hardest-hit counties starting in Marsabit.
The country’s largest supermarket chain, Naivas who are supplying the food hampers are also supporting the donation by providing free logistics.
Meanwhile the country’s top media houses including Mediamax, Nation Media Group, Radio Africa, Royal Media and the Standard Group have pledged to use their reach to raise awareness about the campaign.
Kenyans have also been encouraged to donate their Bonga Points or cash to enable purchase of food items to be distributed to some of the worst affected counties.
“While we are still in discussions will all stakeholders about the long-term initiatives, we know all too well the importance of having some short-term actions to deal with the current situation. We are calling upon other private sector players to join us in supporting those suffering from the effects of drought because we are all aware that we cannot thrive if the community around us is in anguish.
“We are also giving the opportunity for Safaricom customers who want to donate by allowing them to contribute their Bonga points by dialing *126# and selecting Pamoja Tuungane”, said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom
“Our mantra as naivas is that we exist to make other people’s lives better, and we remain true to this principle. As a homegrown brand, we cannot sit by as our fellow communities are in anguish and it is for this reason that we are honoured to be part of this initiative.
In as much as we cannot do all the good the world needs, we believe that the world needs all the good we can give”, said David Kimani, Naivas Managing Director.
KCB Foundation has pledged an immediate KES 2.5million cash relief support as well as long term support through training and equipping farmers through aggregators with climate smart agricultural practices to mitigate against the dire impacts of climate change to the tune of KES 100 million.
“The long-term support to mitigate against climate change is crucial for us, as we will train the farmers from Arid and Semi-Arid counties on climate-resilient practices.
This will contribute towards a food-secure future and ensure our communities adapt to survive against the increasing drought patterns” said KCB Group Director, Marketing, Corporate Affairs and Citizenship Rosalind Gichuru
The Pamoja Tuungane campaign comes as the latest recommendation by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) called for the provision of food assistance and scaling up of cash transfers to households in 23 counties who are currently food insecure as a result of the prevailing drought stress.
“As an organisation, our mission is to positively influence society with a mandate to be a voice for the voiceless in the community. Right now, the voiceless are fellow Kenyans who have been hard hit by the ongoing drought.
Over the last few weeks, we have highlighted their plight across our print, broadcast and digital platforms. We commit to deploy our platforms through this partnership with Safaricom and other like-minded organisations to continue propelling awareness about the current situation across borders and galvanize action towards ensuring that no other Kenyan dies of hunger.
We strongly believe that we are responsible for those around us, and as such cannot stand by and watch as our country men suffer”, said Stephen Gitagama, GCEO, Nation Media Group.The government has already issued an alarm warning that the number of hunger-stricken Kenyans could rise to 3.5 million by June from the current 3.1 million given the prediction of a poor March-May rainy season.
Ghetto life can be rough. Many young people who grow up in Kenyan slums are forced to turn to crime to make ends meet. More often than not, this does not end well for them and their families.
A Kenyan Catholic priest known as Father John Webootsa of St. John’s Parish in Korogocho knew this too well and this explains why he set out to change the ‘ghetto narrative’ in 2008.
The 38-year-old cleric was keen on improving the living conditions slum dwellers so much so that he asked Elizabeth Njoroge to teach young people music at a community centre in Korogocho.
This community project is what became the Ghetto Classics. With time, the centre was able to acquire instruments which have helping underprivileged children from various parts of Nairobi.
In 2013, Kenya’s leading mobile service provider, Safaricom, through its CEO Bob Collymore, asked Elizabeth to form the Safaricom Youth Orchestra.
Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore with Ghetto Classics
In 2014, the teleco started the Safaricom Jazz Festival and donated all proceeds from ticket sales to the program.
Since then, Ghetto Classic has received approximately Ksh 60 million from Safaricom. These funds cater for music training, schooling and basic needs of over 650 children from different slums in Kenya.
The beneficiaries of this program have acquired skills that have given them hope and opened a world of possibilities.
Ghetto Classics
Apart from performing before the likes of Pope Francis and President Uhuru Kenyatta, these young boys and girls have also shared stages with music greats like Branford Marsalis, Kirk Whalum, Salif Keïta, Marcus Miller, just to name a few.
On Wednesday May 1, 2019, Ghetto Classics will have another opportunity to perform alongside two music legends i.e. two-time Grammy awards winner Paco Sery (Ivory Coast) and Cheick Tidiane Seck (Mali) who will be the headlining acts in this year’s edition of Safaricom International Jazz Festival.
Paco Sery
The event, which will be held at Carnivore Grounds from 12 noon, will also feature performances from Mandla Mlangeni and the Tune Creation Committee (South Africa), Sylwester Ostrowski and The Jazz Brigade ft. Freddie Hendrix (Poland and USA).
Kenya will be represented by Nairobi Horns Project, Shamsi Music, Jacob and Kavutha Asiyo, Kato and The Change Band.
Safaricom Jazz Festival
Tickets go for only Ksh. 2000 (adults) and Ksh. 500 (students). You can get your passes at select Safaricom shops, at the gate or by dialling 1511.
What’s more is that regular tickets are now down to Ksh. 1500 on Masoko.com
Get yours and turn out in large numbers to support these young boys and girls from Ghetto Classics as they showcase the skills that they have acquired over the years. This way, you’ll be part of their story. #SafaricomJazz
Below is a video of Ghetto Classics performing alongside Nairobi Horns Project.
We all have something in mind that we dream of getting for ourselves or for someone else. Maybe you want to get yourself a new laptop, take a course, go on vacation with your significant other, upgrade your TV, move into a posh estate, the list is endless.
With such big goals in mind, it’s very important to have a good savings plan that helps you track how much you are putting away and shows you how close you are to achieving your goal. If you don’t have one, you might never realize your dream.
Kenya’s leading mobile service provider, Safaricom, understands that saving is a hard task for many people and that’s why they developed the M-Shwari 52-Week Challenge to help you double your savings which will in turn help you to achieve your dream.
The idea behind it is to deposit some money into your M-Shwari account every, week from the 1st week of January to the last week of December. The amount that you put away increases by Ksh 50 every week. For instance, if you save Ksh 50 this week, you’ll save Ksh 100 next week, Ksh 150 the week after that and so on.
If you are disciplined and adhere to the savings schedule, you’ll have Ksh 68,900 or more at the end of the year which will help you to buy what you wanted or go on a much-needed holiday after a long year of hard work.
You must be wondering what to do if you just learnt of this challenge which implies that you did not start saving from the first week of January. No need to worry. What I love most about the 52-week challenge is that it’s never too late to start.
Look at it like this, we are in the last week of April, which is the 16th week of the year. If you didn’t start saving at the beginning of the year, you can put away Ksh 6,800 at the end of the week so as to compensate for the weeks that you didn’t save. Next week you can save Ksh 850 then you can put away Ksh 900 the week after that and so on.
But then again, you can decide to be more aggressive. For instance, say you’ve had a good week and you have some extra money. You can decide that you’ll save Ksh 200 more so that you can have more money at the end of the year.
The best part about the M-Shwari 52-week challenge is that it has weekly reminder that will remind you how much you are supposed to save in a certain week. It also has percentage indicators that will show you how far you are from achieving your goal. This makes it easier to track your savings.
You can also save in reverse which means that you start with the difficult weeks as you work your way to the easier weeks. You can also choose to automate the service and enjoy your peace of mind while working towards your goal.
All deposits on M-Shwari will earn an interest rate of 7% per annum if you don’t touch your savings which means that you’ll have more money at the end of the year.
Follow the steps below to lock your savings account for the M-Shwari 52 week saving challenge:
Go to M-PESA on My Safaricom App or from your sim tool kit, select Loans and Savings, select M-Shwari, select Lock Savings Account, select Open Lock Account, Set your target at min Ksh. 68,900 or more, set period at 12 months, set your account to save from M-PESA or M-Shwari.
The last few rounds of any football tournament are all about the momentum. Things get intense as each side seeks to emerge the victors and earn bragging rights.
This is the same case with Chapa Dimba na Safaricom. Teams are definitely putting up an impressive performance as the national finals, which will be played in Meru on 8th and 9th June nears.
The sixth leg of the competition will be played at Thika Stadium on April 13th and 14th. The region’s finest football teams will clash, with each team seeking to be crowned the best.
Euronuts from Kiambu will take on Irigiro boys from Maragua while Laikipia’s Lufa Graduates will face Tetu Boys from Nyeri in the boy’s semis.
Changamwe Ladies receive their rewards during the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Coast region finals
Barcelona from Laikipia will play Dynamos from Kirinyaga as JYSA from Thika take on defending champions Limuru Starlets from Kiambu in the girl’s category.
Last weekend, the coastal chapter of the tournament was held at Bomu Stadium where Shimanzi Youth and Changamwe Ladies were crowned the region’s finest football teams and booked for themselves slots at the national final which will be played on 8th and 9th June at Kinoru Stadium.
Other teams that have already secured places in the national finals are; Ahly and Kitale Queens from Rift Valley, Bishop Njenga Girls and Lugari Blue Saints from Western, Manyatta Boys and Ndhiwa Queens from Nyanza.
Al Ahly players celebrate after winning Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom Coast region finals
The national winner for both the girls’ and boys’ teams will each get KSh 1 million, while the runners up will pocket KSh 500,000.
The regional winner for both the girls’ and boys’ teams will pocket KSh 200,000, while the runners up will take home KSh 100,000. The best player, top scorer and best keeper will each pocket KSh 30,000.
Two boy best players and two girl best players from each region will also be selected to form an all-star team that will be sponsored on a 10-day trip to Spain where they will play La Liga academies and access world-class training facilities.
Turnout in large numbers and cheer your favourite teams at Thika Stadium this weekend. You can also follow the conversation on social media #ChapaDimbaNaSafaricom.
It
goes without saying that final of a football tournament is the most exciting
part. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing the best teams going up against each
other. It’s quite an experience!
The same case applies to Chapa Dimba, a tournament that was started by Safaricom with the aim of transforming the lives of boys and girls, aged between 16 and 20, by giving them a chance to earn from something that they are passionate about – football.
Kitale Queens celebrate after winning the girls’ regional finals (Rift Valley)
1600
teams all over the country registered for the competition. This number has been
whittled down at every stage as we draw closer to the national finals which
will be played on 8th and 9th June at Kinoru Stadium.
The
tournament is currently in the regional finals stage. At this stage, 8
teams, 4 girls’ teams and 4 boys’ teams, take on each other for a chance
represent the region in the national finals and walk away with a large sum of
money.
The
regional finals began in Western where Blue Saints and Bishop Njenga Girls,
both from Lugari, were crowned winners. It then moved to Nyanza where Manyatta
Boys and Ndhiwa Queens emerged the best of the best in the region.
It
then went to Eastern where Supersolico from Mwingi and St Mary’s Ndovea from
Makueni secured a chance to represent the region in the finals. Rift Valley was
next where Al-Ahly and Kitale Queens secured a chance to represent the region
in the finals.
After Western, Nyanza, Eastern and Rift Valley, all roads lead to Bomu Stadium in Changamwe on April 6th and 7th for the Coast regional finals.
The
boys’ semis will see Mombasa’s Shimanzi Youth play Kaloleni United while
Kilifi’s Matsangaoni boys will take on Maweni United from Malindi. The girls’ semis will have Changamwe Ladies from
Mombasa face Kwale Starlets as Matsangaoni Ladies from Kilifi play Malindi’s
Solwogidi.
The winner for both the girls’ and boys’
teams will pocket KSh. 200,000, while the runners up will take home KSh.
100,000. The best player, top scorer and best keeper will each pocket KSh.
30,000.
After
the Coast, Chapa Dimba will head to Nairobi, Central, North Eastern before
culminating in Meru where the where the national winner for both the girls’ and
boys’ teams will each get KSh 1 million, while the runners up will pocket KSh. 500,000.
Two
boy best players and two girl best players from each region will also be
selected to form an all-star team that will be sponsored on a 10-day trip to
Spain where they will play La Liga academies and access
world-class training facilities.
Turn out in large numbers and support your favourite teams at Bomu Stadium this weekend. You can also follow the conversation on social media #ChapaDimbaNaSafaricom.
Watch the video below and see how Chapa Dimba has transformed Brian Lumumba’s life.
Football is the most popular sport in Kenya, as is the case in many parts of the world. Maybe this is because it requires fewer resources compared to other sports.
Perhaps this might also explain why boys and girls across the country start playing football at a very young age. For some, it’s a hobby while others are keen on harnessing their skills and playing in the world’s biggest leagues such as Spain’s La Liga.
Most young boys and girls are keen on becoming the next big deal, drawing inspiration from the likes of Victor Wanyama, Divock Origi and McDonald Mariga. However, they are often forced to abandon their dreams midway because of one reason or the other.
A young player might dream of representing Kenya at foreign competitions but there’s no one to single them out of a crowd. So, after waiting to be noticed for many years, they give up.
Seeing how dire the situation was, Safaricom unveiled Chapa Dimba as a way of giving back to Kenyans, who have always been a part of their story since the firm was established in 1997.
Safaricom’s Chief Customer Officer Sylvia Mulinge kicks a ball at the Nyanza regional finals of Chapa Dimba on February 10
Through the tournament, the telecom giant aims to transform the lives of boys and girls, aged between 16 and 20, by giving them a chance to earn from something they are very passionate about – football.
Safaricom also seeks to develop football at the grass root level, propel gifted players to the national teams which translates to give hope to young boys and girls.
Chapa Dimba has five stages; Group Stage 1, Group Stage 2, Round of 16, Regional Finals and National Finals. Both boys and girls participate at every stage of the competition.
Nyanza and Western already wrapped up the regional stages of the competition and are training ahead of the national finals to be held in Meru in June.
Western region’s Bishop Njenga Girls and Lugari Blue Saints as well as Manyatta Boys and Ndhiwa Queens from Nyanza won their respective regional finals and secured slot in the national finals.
After Nyanza and Western, all roads lead to Kitui Showground on March 9th and 10th for the Chapa Dimba Eastern region finals where 8 teams, 4 girls’ teams and 4 boys’ teams, will go up against each other for a chance represent the region in the national finals.
The boys’ semis will see Isiolo Young Stars play Triumph boys from Embu while Mwingi’s Super Solico will take on Samba boys from Moyale. The girls’ semis will have Karugwa Queens from Meru Central face Chuka Starlets from Meru South as Marsabit’s Sakuu Queens meet St. Mary’s Ndovea from Makueni.
The winner for both the girls’ and boys’ teams will pocket KSh. 200,000, while the runners up will take home KSh. 100,000. The best player, top scorer and best keeper will each pocket KSh. 30,000.
After Eastern, Chapa Dimba will head to Rift Valley, Coast, Central, North Eastern, Nairobi and culminate in Meru where the national winner for both the girls’ and boys’ teams will each get KSh 1 million, while the runners up will pocket KSh. 500,000.
Two boy best players and two girl best players from each region will also be selected to form an all-star team that will be sponsored on a 10-day trip to Spain where they will play La Liga academies and access world-class training facilities.
Turn out in large numbers and support your favourite teams at Kitui Showground this weekend. You can also follow the conversation on social media #ChapaDimbaNaSafaricom.
Watch the video below and see how Chapa Dimba has transformed Brian Lumumba’s life.
Telecommunications giant Safaricom has recorded a profit after tax of Kes 31.50 billion in the period between September 2017 and September 2018.
Safaricom earned a whopping Kes 35.52 billion from M-Pesa, an 18.2% increase from Kes 30.05 billion which was recorded a year earlier.
Voice service (incoming and outgoing) revenue grew by 1.4% to Kes 48.03 billion. Mobile data revenue increased by 10.8% to Kes 19.45 billion.
Messaging revenue declined by 1.2% to Kes 8.81 billion which fixed service revenue increased by 21.0% to Kes 3.91 billion.
Safaricom also recorded an increase in its customer numbers by 1.5% to 29.94 million. The telco recorded an overall Service revenue growth of 7.7% to Kes 118.21 billion.
Solid results
Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore
Speaking of Safaricom’s results, CEO Bob Collymore said that the telecommunication giant was pleased with the solid results was looking forward to diversification of its revenue mix to tap into new growth areas
“I’m pleased with the progress we made on a number of fronts in the first half of the year. We achieved solid results driven by strong M-PESA gains, further diversification of our revenue mix to tap into new growth areas and investment in new revenue streams, which contributed to a double digit increase in Earnings Per Share (EPS), and free cash flow,” said Collymore in part.
Adding that:
“Safaricom hopes to endear itself to Kenyans as an enabler, a brand that allows customers to communicate, socialize and do business in line with our strategy of putting the customer first and delivering relevant products and services. ”
Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore left many rather worried after sharing how he was given incorrect diagnosis in his early stages of Cancer.
In an interview with Jeff Koinange, Bob shared that he was misdiagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency by Kenyan doctors before he new he had cancer.
“I use to get tired and have high temperatures from time to time. It got so bad that I could not make it to company events,” he said in the interview.
“During a visit to Morocco, I started experiencing flu-like symptoms. I noticed a pain in the bones of my chin and that my body would start shaking. I thought to myself that it’s not something you experience unless you kick something really hard.”
Dissatisfied
He said that further research from a UK doctor eventually showed that he had cancer.
“My wife Wambui is really good in self diagnosis. She thought I had malaria. I also went to a doctor in Nairobi who said I had a vitamin D deficiency. I returned to Nairobi for check-ups and was given supplements,” he said.
Adding:
“He did about 30 blood tests but said he could not find the problem. He needed to do more tests which meant I had to be admitted. It was the first time I was admitted at the hospital,” he said.
Gone are the days when you would be taken through painstaking verification process when calling customer care. Unlocking M-Pesa pin will now be done by your voice alone without someone asking you ‘maswali za clinic’.
Safaricom has introduced voice biometric system that will help customers get through to customer care agents within 20 seconds.
The voice biometric system dubbed ‘Jitambulishe’ allow customers to access Safaricom services through a faster and less intrusive vetting process.
Customers are required to call Safaricom customer care to register their voices to start enjoying the new service. Once your voice is registered by Safaricom, next time you call customer care when you have a query, your per-recorded voice print will then be able to do SIM swaps, unlock M-PESA PIN and PUK requests.
This process will be VERY first compared to yesteryears when customers had to wait when calling customer care. Voice biometric system is all about efficiency.
Voice biometric system reduces fraud
Safaricom also aims at at reducing fraud and to assist its customers reduce cases of identity theft through the voice biometric system.
Voice biometrics technology recognizes a person by their voice thus eliminates the need to use PINs, passwords and security questions to log in to consumer devices, call centers, mobile apps, and websites.
Voice biometric system is safe and convenient to customers, it’s the best solution Safaricom has come up to help improve service delivery to its customers through customer care.
Dial 100,200,234 and experience Safaricom’s voice biometric system today! Corporate customers are exempt from the service.
Christmas started early for ordinary Kenyans who bumped into Safaricom’s staff dishing out goodies to anyone and everyone.
Safaricom changed its slogan to ‘Twaweza’ in June. Twaweza has been defined as the spirit that helps families, friends and loved ones achieve their dreams beyond their imagination. It’s the spirit that makes us do more, be more and become better as a community.
The telecommunication giants is now running a two-week campaign to reward Kenyans in celebration of Christmas holiday. Safaricom has gone out to show Kenyans amazing acts of kindness.
Safaricom’s objective is to remind all Kenyans why it is important to be kind, which is in line with the spirit of Twaweza.
Everything for free
Kenyans across various towns in the country have been treated to free lunch, free bus fare, free airtime, free petrol refuel among other freebies.
In Nairobi Safaricom visited several eateries where they paid bills for all the customers present. People were also given free Kes 1000 airtime.
Safaricom employees also boarded matatus in Nairobi and paid fare for commuters and also gave them Kes 1000 airtime for free.
The story was the same in Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nyahururu, Karatina, Thika, Meru, Ukunda. See the photos below:
There have been a lot of speculations about Bob Collymore’s future in Safaricom. Rumormongers have been peddling lies about Collymore leaving the telecommunications giant.
Safaricom announced on October 30th that Collymore had gone for a medical leave. A statement by Safaricom Chairman Nicholas Ng’ang’a said that Collymore would be away for a number of months as he had gone for specialized treatment.
The likes of Robert Alai and other social media influencers have been posting misleading information. Alai falsely claimed on Twitter on Tuesday November 14th that Safaricom was interviewing potential candidates to replace Collymore.
Collymore contract extended until 2019
Collymore’s contract was only renewed in May 2017. He will remain Safaricom CEO for the next two years following the extension of his term.
If Safaricom was recruiting a new CEO it would have advertised the position on local dailies. Don’t trust everything you read on social media.
Telecommunications giant Safaricom will temporarily be run by its Chief Financial Officer and Director Strategy and Innovation. Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore has gone for a medical leave.
A statement by Safaricom Chairman Nicholas Ng’ang’a states that Collymore will be away for a number of months as he has gone for a specialized treatment.
Below is the complete statement issued by Safaricom chairman:
Safaricom Plc (NSE: SCOM) today announces that its CEO Bob Collymore, has started medical leave to receive specialised treatment for a number of months.
During this time, Sateesh Kamath, the current Chief Financial Officer for Safaricom who is also Mr. Collymore’s alternate on the Board, will take a primary role.
He will be supported by Joseph Ogutu who is the current Director – Strategy and Innovation, Safaricom. Mr. Ogutu will be responsible for Safaricom’s day-to-day operations until Mr. Collymore’s return from medical leave.
With over 20 years experience in both mature and emerging markets, Mr. Kamath has a strong background in strategic performance management and building robust operations across the telecoms, FMCG and manufacturing sectors.
On his part, Mr. Ogutu is the longest serving Executive Committee member in Safaricom. He has a long and distinguished career in the telecommunications industry spanning over 30 years, with rich experience across several parts of the company including the Corporate Affairs and Human Resource functions. He is currently also serves as the Chairman of the Safaricom Foundation.
“On behalf of the board, management and the entire Safaricom community, I wish Bob quick recovery and look forward to him resuming his duties as soon as doctors allow him to do so,” said Nicholas Ng’ang’a, Chairman, Safaricom Plc.
For Kenya to prosper everyone irrespective of political affiliation, religious belief, ethnic background or race, must come together. Five astonishing incidents prove great things happen when Kenyans unite for a common cause.
Have you asked yourself why Safaricom dumped ‘The better option’ for a new slogan dubbed ‘Twaweza’ after 17 years? I mean why does Kenya’s biggest and most profitable telecommunications company need to change its slogan anyway?
The answer is that Safaricom realized the potential when Kenyans unite. Through different initiatives Safaricom has mobilized Kenyans to solve different problems and through those projects what came out clear is that great things happen when Kenyans from all walks of life come together.
Incident #1
Incident #2
Incident #3
Incident #4
Incident #5
During the launch of the new slogan at Uhuru Garden last Saturday, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said the company was now focused on building a more human network that leverages the strength of individual talent and the overall power of community.
“We are now focused on building a more human network that leverages the strength of our talent. We are calling this spirit ‘Twaweza’ and simply it means that we believe that when we come together great things happen. To succeed in Kenya, to REALLY succeed, you need to carry everyone along with you. And that’s why today marks the start of a new journey to unite Kenyans from all walks of life, to build the foundations of more resilient Kenya. When we come together great things happen, Twaweza,” said Bob Collymore.
Twaweza has been defined as the spirit that helps families, friends and loved ones achieve their dreams beyond their imagination. It’s the spirit that makes us do more, be more and become better as a community.
With the Twaweza spirit, Safaricom aims at uniting all Kenyans overcome challenges that many detractors have said could not be overcome, to produce something that is truly innovative.
You must be wondering what to do if you just learnt of this challenge which implies that you did not start saving from the first week of January. No need to worry. What I love most about the 52-week challenge is that it’s never too late to start.
