Uber Partners with Safaricom to Enable M-Pesa Payments for Riders in Kenya

Uber and Safaricom have announced a strategic partnership that enables riders in Kenya to make payments for trips using the widely popular mobile banking service, M-Pesa. The collaboration was unveiled at an event today, marking a significant step towards further integrating mobile money services into the country’s transportation industry.

Safaricom, the telecom giant behind the M-Pesa service, highlighted the notable advantage this collaboration brings to drivers who lack traditional bank accounts. According to statistics shared by Uber Kenya, approximately 20% of drivers on the platform currently lack bank accounts, limiting their ability to harness the full potential of digital transactions.

M-Pesa, which enables users to store and transfer money using their mobile phones, was introduced by Safaricom as an innovative solution to provide widespread access to financial services in Kenya. The service quickly gained traction and transformed into the go-to payment method for both individuals and businesses across the country.

The integration of M-Pesa into Uber’s payment ecosystem is not entirely new. The partnership initially took root when Uber introduced M-Pesa as a payment option for its food delivery service, UberEats. This allowed consumers to pay for deliveries seamlessly through M-Pesa, while delivery personnel could conveniently receive their earnings via the mobile money platform.

Imran Manji, Head of East Africa at Uber, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “Through the integration of M-Pesa for trip payments, we are excited to bring the ease and convenience of mobile money to riders on our platform. We are pleased to have found a partner in Safaricom in order to take this significant step towards enhancing financial inclusion in the country.”

M-Pesa has already solidified its dominance in Kenya’s payment landscape, with a significant majority of individuals utilising the service for their financial transactions. In the previous financial year, Safaricom processed an impressive 6.4 billion payments through M-Pesa, underscoring its unparalleled popularity and acceptance.

Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, lauded the partnership’s potential impact, saying, “This partnership with Uber will enable us to provide thousands of drivers and delivery people alongside millions of customers with a fully digital solution with faster, secure, affordable, and convenient payments through M-Pesa.”