Safaricom’s Innovation Day explores Kenya’s digital future
From Left: Kenneth Ogwang, Head of Digital and Technology at Diageo Eastern, Southern Africa, and Russia; Geoffrey Gitagia, Group IT Manager at Avenue Healthcare and CIO of the Year 2024; and Festus Makau, Ag. Manager of Digital Infrastructure Management at KENGEN PLC, during a panel discussion at the Safaricom Enterprise Business Unit Innovation Day, held at the Michael Joseph Centre on 27th Aug. 2025.
As the race to shape how enterprises better harness the power of emerging digital tools intensifies, Safaricom PLC has stepped forward, hosting a deep dive conversation with captains of various sector, aiming to co-create a mutually beneficial future.
In its flagship Innovation Day conference modelled under the theme: “Powering What’s Next: AI, Resilience & Sustainable Innovation", the tech giant shared with key decision makers and tech partners its vision to evolve into Africa's purpose-led company.
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The forum explored the unique ways in which the company can deliver secure, AI-driven and scalable ICT solutions tailored to meet the needs of its enterprise customers Kenya, the crown jewel of East Africa's economy, and beyond.
“As digitisation accelerates across all sectors, businesses are seeking trusted partners who offer secure, AI-Powered and scalable solutions. We aim to be a trusted partner for businesses in their digital transformation journey,” said Frankline Okata, Ag. Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Safaricom.
At the forum, over 100 key decision-makers, technology partners, and enterprise customer heads were briefed on how Safaricom seeks to become Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030.
Cloud, IoT, and AI
In particular, participants drawn from across sectors including healthcare and manufacturing explored Safaricom's cutting-edge products and services in cloud, cybersecurity, IoT, and AI.
The telco said it is increasingly positioning itself to deliver impactful, future-proof digital solutions for businesses in Kenya and Africa.
“Safaricom Business Innovation Day represents more than a showcase; it is a declaration of intent. We are no longer just a connectivity provider. We are evolving into a strategic digital transformation partner, helping businesses harness technology to become more resilient, competitive, and sustainable,” Okata said.
The Innovation Day stands as both a platform for innovation and a symbol of the company’s bold market repositioning, from telco to full-scale technology enabler, shaping the future of enterprise in Kenya and beyond.
In the fiscal year ending March 2024, Safaricom's total economic value was estimated at KES562 billion ($ 4.3 billion), with its trailblazing M-PESA platform having driven financial inclusion in Kenya to 83.7 percent of the adult population in 2021 from a low of 26.7 percent in 2006.
The Nairobi Securities Exchange telco reported annual revenues of close to KES388 billion as at March 2025, even as it continues to deploy 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G signal in aggregate covering over 99 percent of Kenya’s customers.
