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Who Owns Mpesa? Safaricom! On October 19, 2023, Safaricom publicly announced that it had completed the full acquisition, and now owns M-PESA Holdings, the company that owns the M-PESA mobile money platform. The acquisition was finalized after Safaricom purchased Vodafone’s 49% stake in M-PESA Holdings for KES 104 billion. That’s approximately USD 860 million.
The acquisition of M-PESA Holdings gives Safaricom full control of the M-PESA platform. M-PESA has over 51 million active users across Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Lesotho, Ghana, and Egypt. The platform facilitates over KES 10 trillion (approximately USD 86 billion) in transactions every year.
Safaricom’s acquisition of M-PESA Holdings is a significant event for the African mobile money industry. It is the first time that a major mobile operator has acquired full control of a mobile money platform. The acquisition is also a testament to the success of M-PESA and its role in promoting financial inclusion in Africa.
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Safaricom Now Owns M-PESA Holdings
Now that Safaricom owns Mpesa Holdings, it gives them full control of the M-PESA platform, which is the most successful mobile money platform in Africa. This will allow Safaricom to accelerate the growth of M-PESA and expand its reach into new markets.
Second, the acquisition is a testament to the success of M-PESA and its role in promoting financial inclusion in Africa. M-PESA has made it possible for millions of Africans to access financial services that were previously unavailable to them. The acquisition will allow Safaricom to continue to invest in M-PESA and develop new products and services that meet the needs of its customers.
Third, the acquisition is a sign of Safaricom’s commitment to the African market. Safaricom is already the leading telecommunications company in Kenya and Tanzania. The acquisition of M-PESA Holdings will give Safaricom a stronger presence in other African markets and help it to achieve its goal of becoming a leading provider of financial services in Africa.
What are the implications of Safaricom’s acquisition of M-PESA Holdings for the African mobile money industry?
Safaricom’s acquisition of M-PESA Holdings is likely to have a significant impact on the African mobile money industry. First, it is likely to lead to increased competition among mobile operators. Other mobile operators are likely to follow Safaricom’s lead and invest more heavily in their mobile money platforms. This will lead to more innovation and better products and services for customers.
Second, the acquisition is likely to accelerate the growth of the African mobile money industry. M-PESA is already the most successful mobile money platform in Africa, and Safaricom’s full ownership of the platform will allow it to grow even faster. This will benefit all stakeholders in the industry, including customers, merchants, and mobile operators.
Third, the acquisition is likely to lead to more partnerships between mobile operators and other financial institutions. Safaricom has already partnered with a number of banks and other financial institutions to offer M-PESA-based products and services. Safaricom’s full ownership of M-PESA will make it easier for it to enter into new partnerships and offer a wider range of financial services to its customers.
What does the future hold for M-PESA?
The future of M-PESA looks bright. The platform is already the most successful mobile money platform in Africa, and Safaricom’s full acquisition of the platform is likely to accelerate its growth and expansion. Safaricom is also investing heavily in developing new M-PESA-based products and services, such as savings and lending products and insurance services.
In the future, M-PESA is likely to become more than just a mobile money platform. It is likely to evolve into a one-stop shop for financial services in Africa. M-PESA customers will be able to use the platform to access a wide range of financial services, including savings, lending, insurance, and investment services.
M-PESA is also likely to play an increasingly important role in the development of the African economy. The platform can be used to support e-commerce, microfinance, and other economic activities. M-PESA can also be used to deliver government services to citizens
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