Safaricom Ethiopia has revealed the introduction of its mobile money service, M-PESA, to Android users within the country. An iOS version is anticipated to be released in the upcoming weeks. This development arrives after the operator obtained a license from the National Bank of Ethiopia, subsequent to a sequence of pilot tests.
Operating in five languages, the service will furnish Ethiopian subscribers with an array of financial capabilities, encompassing domestic and international money transfers, airtime top-ups and retail merchant payments.
Safaricom Ethiopia interim CEO Stanley Njoroge said, “We will continue to broaden the services our customers receive from the M-PESA platform that will improve the quality of life for our customers. M-PESA will play its part in fast-tracking digital inclusion and promoting innovation outlined in the Digital Payments Strategy 2025.”
Paul Kavavu, the interim general manager of Safaricom M-PESA Mobile Financial Services, underlined the role of the platform in promoting financial inclusion in Kenya, where over 90% of the adult population now accesses mobile banking. Looking forward, Safaricom plans to augment the app's capabilities and collaborate with Ethiopians to fully harness the transformative potential of M-PESA.
