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M-Pesa
M-Pesa — the mobile money service that revolutionised financial inclusion in Africa, serving 51M+ users.
Country:Kenya
Language:English; Swahili
Published:2026-03-01
Audience:Entrepreneurs, fintech enthusiasts, business students
M-Pesa ("M" for mobile, "pesa" is Swahili for money) is a mobile money transfer service launched in 2007 by Safaricom in Kenya. It allows users to deposit, withdraw, transfer money and pay for goods and services using a simple mobile phone — no bank account required. By 2024, M-Pesa served over 51 million active users across Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, DRC, Lesotho, Ghana and Egypt. The service handles over US$314 billion in annual transaction value. M-Pesa is credited with lifting millions of Kenyans out of poverty by providing financial inclusion to previously unbanked populations. Its success spawned a global fintech revolution and established Kenya as the world leader in mobile money.
Keywords
M-Pesa
Kenya
mobile money
Safaricom
fintech
financial inclusion
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