Uber and Safaricom have announced a new collaboration today, aimed at enhancing the payment experience for riders across Kenya. Under this partnership, users will be able to pay for their Uber trips using M-PESA, Safaricom’s popular mobile money service. This development comes after a successful collaboration between UberEats and M-PESA, which allowed consumers to pay for food deliveries and enabled delivery personnel to receive their earnings through the mobile money platform.
One of the key advantages of this joint effort is the benefit it brings to drivers who don’t have bank accounts. Uber’s data indicates that approximately 20% of their drivers lack bank accounts, restricting their access to digital payment options for their trips. By integrating M-PESA as a payment method, Uber aims to address this issue and extend the convenience of mobile money to all riders on their platform.
Imran Manji, Head of East Africa at Uber, expressed excitement about the partnership with Safaricom and highlighted the significance of improving financial inclusion in the country through the use of M-PESA for trip payments.
Kui Mbugua, General Manager of UberEats in Kenya, also commented on the collaboration, stating that it will enhance the experience for both delivery personnel and customers. By providing easy access to earnings and a convenient mode of payment for deliveries, this partnership is set to streamline the overall process for UberEats users.
Safaricom, with its impressive track record, processed 6.4 billion payments through M-PESA in the last financial year, solidifying its position as the preferred mode of cashless payments in Kenya. The data from the Central Bank of Kenya indicates that M-PESA surpasses traditional card payments by a significant margin, making it the go-to choice for digital transactions in the country.
Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Uber, emphasizing their commitment to providing a fully digital solution with faster, secure, affordable, and convenient payments through M-PESA. By collaborating with partners like Uber, Safaricom aims to deliver more value and opportunities to its customers, aligning with their core purpose of transforming lives in the region.
