Safaricom's device financing scheme, Lipa Mdogo Mdogo, has played a crucial part in growing the number of smartphones connected to its network.
The telco announced the success of the initiative during the release of its 2025 Sustainable Business Report on Tuesday, stating that the number of smartphones connected to its network increased from 22.93 million to 27.37 million.
This surge was largely driven by Lipa Mdogo Mdogo, which enables Kenyans to purchase smartphones using flexible payment plans.
Safaricom explained that the device financing program reached a significant milestone this year, having sold over 2 million 4G smartphones since its launch in 2020.
Since then, the telco has collaborated with manufacturers such as Transsion, Samsung, and Nokia to add more smartphones to the program.
Lipa Mdogo Mdogo is also available in collaboration with Android, Google's operating system for devices that connect to the internet.
All smartphones come preloaded with a suite of Google Apps, including search, maps, Gmail, and YouTube.
According to Safaricom, the device financing program has helped to bridge Kenya's digital divide by enabling low-income customers to purchase smartphones in affordable daily installments.
“Lipa Mdogo Mdogo will help the mwananchi who earn their wages daily acquire a range of smartphones and pay in easy daily instalments for as low as Kshs 20 while enjoying all the benefits that come with being digitally connected,” said Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom’s CEO, during the launch of the program.
In its 2025 Sustainable Business Report, titled "Anchored on Purpose, Accelerating a Digital Future," Safaricom also reported a True Value of $8.46 billion (KSh 1.1 trillion).
According to the 2025 report, the business contributed approximately $6.22 billion (KSh 809 billion) to the GDP through its operations.
The company attributed the increase in True Value earnings to the added value provided to customers, agents, and merchants through its mobile money service M-PESA, increased investment in Corporate Social Investment initiatives, and growth in Safaricom's CAPEX and OPEX economic impact during the course of the year.
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