{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-01/safaricom-mpesa-investments-merchant-expansion","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-01/safaricom-mpesa-investments-merchant-expansion.md","title":"Safaricom Expands M-Pesa Into Investments and Merchant Tools","headline":"Safaricom's Ndegwa Outlines M-Pesa Push Into Wealth, Merchant Services and OneApp","description":"Safaricom is extending M-Pesa into investments, wealth management and merchant tools, with 2.2 million wealth customers and KSh21.1 billion under management.","section":"Expansion","published_at":"2026-11-01T18:06:19+00:00","modified_at":"2026-11-01T18:06:19+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said M-Pesa will expand into investments, wealth management and merchant services, unified through OneApp.","Safaricom reported 2.2 million active M-Pesa wealth customers and KSh21.1 billion in assets under management in the year ended March 2026.","M-Pesa had 3.13 million merchants and processed 46.4 billion transactions worth KSh41.68 trillion in the year ended March 2026.","Safaricom Ethiopia passed 15 million 90-day active subscribers in 2026 and is targeting EBITDA breakeven in the year ending March 2027."],"companies":[{"name":"Safaricom","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00005hf/safaricom","website":"http://safaricom.co.ke"},{"name":"Standard Investment Bank","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0009kgo/standard-investment-bank","website":"http://www.sib.co.ke"},{"name":"Pesapal","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0004whd/pesapal","website":"https://www.pesapal.com"}],"source":{"publisher":"TechTrendsKE","title":"Safaricom expands M-Pesa into investments and business tools","url":"https://techtrendske.co.ke/2026/11/01/safaricom-mpesa-financial-services-expansion/"},"other_sources":[],"tags":["Expansion","Safaricom","Standard Investment Bank","Pesapal"],"body_markdown":"[Safaricom](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00005hf/safaricom) CEO Peter Ndegwa said the company is expanding M-Pesa into investments and wealth management, building more services for merchants and uniting its digital products in OneApp. [TechTrendsKE](https://techtrendske.co.ke/2026/11/01/safaricom-mpesa-financial-services-expansion/) reported the plans from a CNN interview with Victoria Rubadiri. Safaricom is Kenya's largest mobile network operator and the home of M-Pesa, serving more than 40 million Kenyan customers.\n\n## Ndegwa's Plan for M-Pesa Wealth and Merchant Tools\n\nNdegwa said he wants customers to use M-Pesa to pay, save, invest and obtain insurance, describing the goal as a financial health ecosystem that other businesses can connect to. Safaricom launched Ziidi MMF in January 2025 with [Standard Investment Bank](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0009kgo/standard-investment-bank) and ALA Capital, then introduced Ziidi Trader in February 2026 for buying and selling Nairobi Securities Exchange shares by phone. In October 2026 it added Ziidi Shari'ah, a Sharia-compliant money market fund with Gulfcap Investment Bank that lets customers start with KSh100 and contribute from KSh10.\n\nOn the merchant side, Ndegwa said Safaricom is developing tools for businesses to accept payments, pay suppliers and settle employee payments. In October 2026 Safaricom partnered with [Pesapal](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0004whd/pesapal) on tap-to-pay and dynamic QR payments at merchant tills, and introduced Fuliza Ya Pochi, an overdraft for eligible Pochi La Biashara users. Ndegwa said OneApp, launched in Kenya, would give customers multiple services in one place, with artificial intelligence personalising the experience for a \"segment of one.\"\n\n## Safaricom's Wealth and Merchant Figures\n\nAccording to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), Safaricom is a public company majority-owned by Vodacom Group, which completed the acquisition of an additional 20% stake for approximately $2.1 billion in May 2026, raising its ownership to 55%. The company issued its debut green bond in late 2025, seeking Sh15 billion and attracting applications of about Sh41.4 billion, then exercised a Sh5 billion greenshoe to take up Sh20 billion for solarising network sites and energy efficiency upgrades.\n\nTechTrendsKE reported that Safaricom had 2.2 million active M-Pesa wealth customers and KSh21.1 billion in assets under management in the financial year ended March 2026. The publication also reported 3.13 million M-Pesa merchants and 46.4 billion transactions worth KSh41.68 trillion in the same period.\n\n## Earlier Steps Toward M-Pesa Financial Services\n\nSafaricom's move into financial services follows earlier product launches. On October 23, 2026, Safaricom introduced Scan-to-Pay, Tap-to-Pay and AI Pay for M-Pesa with Pesapal, with Scan-to-Pay available at more than 60,000 outlets and a target of 500,000 within a year, TechMoran reported. On October 27, 2026, Telecompaper reported that Safaricom launched M-Pesa Jumbe, a privacy function letting customers confirm payments without revealing full names, phone numbers or account balances.\n\nOn October 29, 2026, TechTrendsKE reported that Safaricom and the Kenya Revenue Authority are discussing using M-Pesa to generate electronic tax invoices for small businesses, with Safaricom proposing reverse invoicing.\n\n## Safaricom Ethiopia's Breakeven Target\n\nNdegwa identified Safaricom's entry into Ethiopia as one of the biggest decisions of his tenure. TechTrendsKE reported that Safaricom Ethiopia passed 15 million 90-day active subscribers in 2026 and generated KSh14.08 billion in service revenue in the financial year ended March 2026, while its loss narrowed to KSh21.2 billion. Safaricom is targeting EBITDA breakeven in the financial year ending March 2027.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}