Safaricom has introduced Daraja 3.0, a major upgrade to its M-PESA API platform, marking a move into what many in the industry see as Fintech 2.0. The launch comes as the company celebrates 25 years in the market. Using the milestone to frame its long-term ambition of building a wider, more open digital economy.
At the launch event, which drew developers, fintech executives, and technology leaders, Safaricom positioned Daraja 3.0 as both a technical overhaul and a signal of strategic intent. Esther Waititu, Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom, said the platform opens “the next frontier of fintech,” pointing to a future where innovation will rely heavily on developer-led ecosystems. Her message was clear: the next phase of M-PESA’s evolution will be co-created.
Daraja 3.0: New Security APIs Boost Fraud Detection and Trust
Daraja 3.0 runs on a modern, cloud-native architecture. For developers, this means faster responses, fewer outages, and more predictable performance. It also aligns M-PESA with global compliance and security standards an area of rising scrutiny as digital payments scale. The shift suggests Safaricom is preparing for a more competitive environment, where reliability and trust will matter as much as reach.
A major highlight of the upgrade is a new suite of Security APIs, designed to strengthen fraud detection, identity verification, and risk management. With fraud becoming more sophisticated and regulators applying tighter oversight, these tools reflect the real pressures shaping the region’s fintech landscape.
Another notable addition is the ability for businesses to build and host services directly inside the M-PESA Super App. This offers instant distribution to millions of users and reduces infrastructure costs for smaller developers—a practical incentive at a time when customer acquisition is expensive.
The broader message behind Daraja 3.0 is about positioning. Safaricom wants M-PESA to remain the partner of choice for enterprises and governments, and sees the developer community as central to that goal. As the company pursues its 2030 ambition to become a purpose-led tech leader in Africa, Daraja 3.0 is both a product upgrade and a strategic signal.
