Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa is leading a bold transformation of Kenya’s largest telecommunications company into a purpose-driven technology powerhouse focused on impact, inclusion, and innovation.
Since he took over the leadership of Safaricom in 2020, Ndegwa has championed a new leadership model that prioritizes people and purpose, redefining how the company operates, what it stands for, and who it serves.
In an interview on Cleaning The Airwaves, Ndegwa reflected on his journey at the helm of Safaricom and the company’s ongoing transformation. When he assumed office, the world was in crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic had brought Kenya to a standstill, streets were deserted, offices closed, and communication had moved almost entirely online.
“It was baptism by fire. But sometimes disruption gives you clarity. It forces you to ask — what are we really here to do?” he recalled.
Under his watch, Safaricom has evolved from a conventional telecom provider into a purpose-driven TechCo that seeks not just to connect people, but to enable possibility.
“Connectivity is only the beginning. The real work is enabling possibility,” he said.
During the pandemic, Safaricom zero-rated e-learning platforms and waived mobile money fees to ease financial strain on Kenyans.
“We lost revenue, but we gained trust — and trust is the ultimate currency,” Ndegwa explained, stressing the philosophy of purpose before profit as the cornerstone of Safaricom’s transformation.
“For us, purpose isn’t corporate jargon — it’s a daily decision-making lens. We started asking, does this product make life simpler, greener, or more inclusive? If not, it doesn’t pass. Profit is oxygen, but purpose is the heartbeat,” he added.
Safaricom’s efforts now span sustainability, financial inclusion, and youth empowerment. Its flagship platform, M-Pesa, has evolved from a simple mobile money service into a comprehensive financial ecosystem offering savings, loans, insurance, and cross-border payments.
“We’re not exporting a product. We’re exporting a philosophy — simple, secure, local solutions for real lives,” the CEO noted.
He has also made sustainability central to Safaricom’s future. “A business that drains the environment to make profit has no future,” he asserted.
The company now sources most of its energy from renewables and has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Looking ahead, Ndegwa envisions Safaricom as a regional force for good. “When I joined, Safaricom was already a national symbol. My task was to make it a regional force for good. We started by connecting people’s voices; now we’re connecting their possibilities,” he reflected.