Safaricom has launched the second leg of its M-PESA Sokoni Festival in the Rift Valley region, as the telco marks 18 years since the revolutionary M-PESA service was unveiled in Kenya.
The latest activation under the ‘Maisha Fiti, Biz Shwari’ banner follows a successful first leg of the festival in the Coast region back in June.
The Rift Valley caravan kicked off on Monday morning in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County and saw customers treated to an energetic mix of entertainment and pleasant rewards.
Attendees walked away with shopping vouchers, electronics, cash prizes, branded merchandise, and surprise gifts through the interactive game show, "M-PESA or the Box."
“We began our M-PESA Sokoni Festival tour in the Coast region in June, and now we are thrilled to bring the excitement to Rift Valley,” said Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa.
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Ndegwa added: “As part of the M-PESA @18 celebrations, we’re treating our customers to a variety of gifts, entertainment as well as other engaging forums.”
The colourful caravan will make stops in Matunda, Moi’s Bridge, Kitale, Eldoret, Baringo and Nakuru, with more festivities planned throughout the week.
Beyond entertainment, the week-long activation features a series of forums designed to equip Kenyans with skills for the digital economy.
The schedule began with the flag-off event in Turbo and will continue with the Safire Connect Forum, focusing on financial wellness and digital literacy to support entrepreneurs and job seekers.
On Wednesday, the M-PESA Foundation will officially launch Phase 7 of the Ndoto Zetu Programme, a grassroots initiative that funds community-driven social impact projects.
The same day will also spotlight Wezesha Mama, a programme targeting women with digital and financial literacy training added to access to seed capital for small businesses.
Thursday will see Safaricom execute a double activation:
• The Grow with Safaricom Business Forum for medium and large enterprises will explore how digital solutions can scale operations, improve efficiency, and protect businesses.
• The Safaricom Hook Circle will host a youth empowerment session with practical training for emerging creatives, innovators and job seekers.
In the evening, Safaricom will honour its agent network with the M-PESA Agents Awards, celebrating the dedication and resilience of M-PESA’s key enablers on the ground.
To wrap up the week, another edition of the Grow with Safaricom Business Forum will take place on Friday, this time with a sharp focus on SMEs.
The discussions will address digitisation, market access, regulatory hurdles, branding, and digital marketing gaps—challenges often faced by small businesses.
Throughout the caravan tour, customers will also get an opportunity to explore Safaricom’s latest product innovations, including:
• Ziidi MMF, Taasi Till, and Taasi Pochi
• Fuliza ya Biashara and Pochi la Biashara
• Lipa na M-PESA, Safaricom Hook, Safaricom Emerald, and Masoko
“I invite everyone within the region to come out in large numbers to join us as we celebrate this significant milestone as we show our appreciation for being part of our shared journey,” intimated Ndegwa.
The M-PESA @18 caravan continues to blend celebration with empowerment, reinforcing Safaricom’s mission to support communities through innovation, connectivity, and inclusion.