Safaricom Unites M-PESA and MySafaricom Into One Super App
Safaricom is reshaping its digital services with a new platform strategy. The company is merging its M-PESA and MySafaricom apps into a single interface called My OneApp. This move aims to simplify access for up to 10 million users while embedding deeper financial tools.
The shift reflects a broader change in approach, as described by Esther Waititu, who highlighted the transition from product-led growth to platform enablement. At the core of this transformation lies FinTech 2.0, a system designed to support developers and scale services efficiently. Safaricom's FinTech 2.0 platform already handles over 66,000 integrations. It processes up to 6,000 transactions per second, demonstrating its capacity for high-volume operations. The platform's backbone, Daraja 3.0, serves as the API gateway, now enhanced with AI capabilities to manage concurrent integrations smoothly.
The company is redefining M-PESA as embedded infrastructure rather than a standalone service. This change ties into broader financial inclusion efforts, with mobile money usage in Kenya climbing from 23% to 84%. My OneApp will act as the main distribution layer, directly linked to Safaricom's infrastructure, consolidating consumer services under one interface.
Beyond payments, Safaricom is expanding into savings, stock trading, and insurance products. The platform also introduces features like business wallet separation and wider credit access. These tools are part of a strategy to move users from income instability to greater financial security.
Developers play a key role in this expansion. FinTech 2.0 positions them as central to service growth, allowing applications to function as independent businesses. The alignment of consumer-facing tools with merchant services creates a shared environment, linking demand with supply more effectively. My OneApp is set to become the primary hub for Safaricom's users, integrating multiple services into one platform. The FinTech 2.0 system, with its high transaction capacity and developer-focused design, supports this consolidation. As the rollout progresses, the platform's success will depend on adoption rates and the ability to deliver measurable financial improvements for users.
