By the 254.ke Newsroom
Safaricom says it created Sh1.25 trillion in value for Kenyan society in the financial year to March 2026, a 10 per cent increase on the previous year, according to its 15th Sustainable Business Report. The company says its ecosystem sustained more than 1.4 million jobs, and that M-Pesa alone generated an estimated Sh478.1 billion in social value. The figures are Safaricom’s own, produced under its own methodology, and have not been independently audited in the reporting seen by 254.ke.
What does the Sh1.25 trillion figure actually measure?
The Standard reported the total as Sh1.247 trillion for the year from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. Of that, Sh654 billion was described as economic impact generated directly from business activities. The report covers wider contribution across digital and financial services, infrastructure investment, jobs and community programmes.
It is a “value created” estimate, not revenue or profit. It should not be compared directly with the company’s financial results.
Key figures from the report
| Measure | FY2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Value created for Kenyan society | Sh1.25 trillion (up 10% on FY2025) |
| Direct economic impact | Sh654 billion |
| M-Pesa social value | Sh478.1 billion |
| Jobs sustained across the ecosystem | More than 1.4 million |
| Network sites on solar power | More than 2,000 (1,432 in FY2025) |
| People reached by foundation programmes | More than 4.4 million |
| Persons with disabilities in workforce | 4% (3.6% in FY2025; target 5%) |
How many M-Pesa transactions were free?
According to TechAfrica News, non-chargeable M-Pesa transactions accounted for 57.8 per cent of transaction volumes, which the company framed as a boost to affordability. Group Chief Executive Peter Ndegwa said more than half of M-Pesa volumes attracted no customer charge, “helping millions of Kenyans transact affordably and participate in an increasingly digital economy.”
What does the report say about emissions and the environment?
Safaricom reported more than 2,000 network sites running on solar, up from 1,432 a year earlier. The Standard reported that Scope 1 and 2 emissions at Safaricom Kenya rose by up to 9.1 per cent, while Safaricom Ethiopia’s fell 31 per cent and the group’s rose 1 per cent. The company points to a net-zero pathway by 2050.
On trees, the Standard reported more than 600,000 trees sponsored in the period, bringing the cumulative total to three million. TechAfrica News describes the programme as having reached three million trees, which is consistent with the cumulative figure.
What did Ndegwa say?
Ndegwa said sustainability “is not philanthropy; it is not a report we produce once a year,” and tied it to business strategy as Safaricom positions itself as a technology company. This is also the first year the company has used a double materiality approach, which assesses both its impact on society and how sustainability risks affect the business. It says it aims to fully comply with applicable IFRS sustainability disclosure requirements by FY2028.
Why it matters in the current debate
The report lands as Safaricom is in several public disputes. It has been admitted to join a High Court case on Communications Authority spectrum charges (see our report on the spectrum fees case) and is in talks with the Kenya Revenue Authority over invoicing for small traders (KRA, M-Pesa tax invoicing talks). Readers weighing the “value created” headline against those disputes should note it is a company-authored measure. For background on the platform itself, see how M-Pesa transformed lives and businesses in Kenya.
FAQ
How much value did Safaricom say it created in FY2026?
Sh1.25 trillion (Sh1.247 trillion per The Standard), up 10 per cent on FY2025, for the year to March 31, 2026.
Is that Safaricom’s profit?
No. It is a societal value estimate covering economic contribution, jobs and community impact, not a financial result.
How many jobs does Safaricom say it supports?
More than 1.4 million across its ecosystem, including M-Pesa agents, dealers and suppliers. The Standard reported 70,000 of these as additional jobs created.
Has the figure been independently verified?
The reports seen cite Safaricom’s own Sustainable Business Report. The Standard noted a sustainable development goals impact assessment by Alexforbes Paragon that scored the company B+ across nine priority goals.
Safaricom publishes its sustainability reports on its official website. As of November 5, 2026, the company had not published separate tax or dividend figures within the coverage reviewed.
Sources: The Standard (Oct 28, 2026); TechAfrica News (Nov 4, 2026).
