Safaricom PLC (NSE: SCOM) has shattered regional records, posting a landmark revenue of Sh388.7 billion ($3 billion) for the financial year ending March 31, 2025, an 11.2 per cent surge from the previous year.
The telecom giant’s net income also climbed 10.8 per cent to Sh69.8 billion, cementing its position as East Africa’s leading technology company.
The performance, announced today in Nairobi and Addis Ababa, caps a transformative five-year strategy that saw Safaricom evolve from a traditional telecom into a purpose-driven TechCo.
Key drivers included sustained innovation, a bold expansion into Ethiopia, and Sh 18 billion invested over five years in community initiatives spanning education, health, environment, and economic empowerment.
“We’ve delivered exceptional group performance with double-digit growth across the board. These results reflect our team’s dedication, our customers’ loyalty, and the strength of our strategy,” said Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom’s CEO.
Dividends and Financial Highlights
Safaricom will payout Sh48.08 billion in dividends to shareholders, comprising a final dividend of 65 cents per share atop an interim payout of 55 cents.
The group’s Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) surged 29.5 per cent to Sh104.1 billion, while operating free cash flow rose 15.8 per cent to Sh148.9 billion.
Safaricom Ethiopia, a cornerstone of the company’s regional ambitions, contributed nearly 10 per cent to group revenue.
With 8.8 million customers and 3,141 operational sites, the subsidiary has doubled its subscriber base in a year. M-PESA services in Ethiopia, used by 2.8 million customers, facilitated transactions worth Sh20.6 billion.
Management projects profitability by 2027 as the business moves beyond its peak investment phase.
Kenya’s Robust Performance
In Kenya, service revenue grew 10.5 per cent to Sh364.3 billion. M-PESA, now 18 years old, remains a powerhouse, generating Sh161 billion—44.2 per cent of Kenya’s service revenue—with a 15.2 per cent year-on-year growth.
This was fueled by diversification into wealth management and credit solutions. The connectivity business, contributing 50.8 per cent of service revenue, grew 6.5 per cent to Sh185.2 billion, with mobile data revenue up 15.2 per cent to Sh72.9 billion and voice revenue defying global declines with a 1.6 per cent rise to Sh80.8 billion.
Ndegwa emphasises that the results lay the groundwork for Safaricom’s ambition to become Africa’s leading purpose-led tech company by 2030.
“We’re entering a new growth phase, harnessing innovation for social good and shaping the future of Kenya, Ethiopia, and beyond,” he said.
With over 49 million customers and a network covering 99 per cent of Kenya’s population via 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, Safaricom supports 1.1 million jobs and contributes Sh562 billion ($4.3 billion) to the economy.
M-PESA, the world’s first mobile money platform, empowers 34 million users and has driven Kenya’s financial inclusion to 83.7 per cent of adults, up from 26.7 per cent in 2006.
Safaricom remains committed to sustainability, targeting Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, and gender parity in senior management by 2025.
Its Ethiopian operations are also advancing the country’s digital transformation with world-class network services.
