Safaricom has awarded five more winners with Kes1 million each in the ongoing Shine Kenya Shinda Mamilii Kama Bingwa campaign. This is the fifth week of the promotion, bringing the total number of weekly millionaires to 25. Additionally, each winner received Kes250,000 to support a community project of their choice.

The award ceremony took place in Mtwapa, Kilifi County, where the latest five winners: Samuel Kuria from Nairobi, Emmanuel Mbogo from Murang’a, Kevin Bitienyi from Kakamega, Geoffrey Langat from Mulot, and Tabu Ndonya from Mariakani in Mombasa County were unveiled.

Speaking during the award ceremony, Tabu Ndonga from Mariakani, expressed her joy after receiving her cheque of Kes1 million. She stated that the money will help her support her family, as she has struggled to provide for her children’s basic needs due to her minimal income as a house manager. She plans to support her local dispensary with the extra Kes250,000.

“I really don’t know what to say at this point, as it’s still unbelievable. I am a mother of four and have really struggled raising my kids with my limited income. I believe this is a new beginning, as I feel my life changing. I plan to start a small business, build a decent house, and pay school fees for my kids,” said Mrs. Ndonga.

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Emmanuel Mbogo, 18, from Murang’a, was elated after being announced as one of the weekly winners in the ongoing campaign. Mbogo, whose dreams were previously shattered due to an inability to afford college fees after completing Form Four last year, now plans to return to school to pursue a course in plumbing. This will enable him to secure a job and support his family. Additionally, he intends to use part of his winnings to repay the loan his father took to fund his secondary education, with the remaining amount allocated for his siblings' education.

“I never imagined I would win something that could transform my life and revive my shattered dreams. We have struggled a lot as a family, to the extent that my father had to take a loan to educate me and some of my siblings, which is still pending. First, I want to clear the loan, then enroll in a plumbing course, and pay for my siblings’ school fees,” said Mr. Mbogo.

Similar sentiments about school fees and returning to education were echoed by Samuel Kuria, a part-time lecturer at a private university in the country. Samuel said, “We are living in tough economic times... I have a few projects that have stalled due to financial constraints. With this money, my hopes of going back to school to pursue my PhD have come true, and I can expand my poultry project, which I have partnered on with my mum.”

He also pledged to support the Home for the Elderly in Kasarani, Nairobi County, where he once worked as a volunteer, through the KES250,000 community projects supported by the Safaricom Foundation. Similarly, Emmanuel Mbogo offered to support the elderly community in Murang’a.

Elsewhere, Kevin Bitienyi, a 33-year-old casual worker from Shimanyiro, Kakamega County, could not hide his happiness after being awarded the cheque. Mr. Bitienyi said he never imagined he would one day receive a million shillings, having always worked as a casual labourer supporting a local women's agricultural group. “I have worked as a casual labourer, but from today I will become self-employed as I plan to venture into serious agricultural business,” said Mr. Bitienyi.

“We are living in tough economic times, and many Kenyans are struggling to make ends meet. At Safaricom, we continue to support, transform and empower Kenyans to have a tangible impact on society. We still have six more winners to announce, including the grand prize winner who will receive KES5 million,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom PLC.

The five winners were selected after transacting on M-PESA and purchasing Safaricom’s Shine Kenya bundles for as little as Kes20. For every KES 200 transacted on M-PESA and any Bundles purchase of KSH 20 and above, customers will earn an entry into the weekly draw. Qualifying M-PESA transactions include Send Money (P2P), Lipa na M-PESA, any transaction made through the M-PESA app, My Safaricom app, or by dialing *444#, *544# or *334#.