Safaricom has wrapped up the inaugural M-PESA Sokoni Festival in Mombasa. They focussed on women’s economic empowerment through Wezesha Mama. This is a new M-PESA Foundation programme that equips coastal women’s groups with digital and financial-literacy training and seed capital.
Held on Saturday at Mombasa Sports Club, the week-long activation drew thousands of residents to a vibrant market. Culminating in a full-day festival featuring discounted devices, household goods, fashion, travel packages and live performances by local artists. More than 60 merchants and service providers processed cash-light payments via M-PESA as part of the service’s 18-year anniversary campaign.
Safaricom’s Chief Financial Services Officer Esther Waititu thanked customers for walking with the brand for 18 years. She noted that the Coast region hosts over 1.5 million active M-PESA users. During the day-long celebration, visitors won shopping vouchers, electronics and cash through the “M-PESA or the Box” game show. Elizabeth Makokha of Changamwe claimed the KES 180,000 grand prize, which she plans to reinvest in her shoe business.
The festival was preceded by Safire Connect, a knowledge-sharing forum on entrepreneurship, personal branding and community opportunities, and by the Regional M-PESA Agents Awards honouring high-performing agent stores. A Grow with Safaricom Business forum later in the week provided local enterprises with guidance on digitising operations, expanding market reach and navigating regulatory requirements.
Saturday’s event concluded the two-month coastal leg of the M-PESA @ 18 celebrations. The nationwide caravan now heads to Nairobi, where activations will begin on 16 June 2025.
