1999
Turning point
Safaricom licensed
Safaricom received its operating licence in 1999, according to the company's own history.
Company
How Safaricom unfolded
Safaricom began as the mobile arm of state-owned Telkom Kenya, was licensed in 1999 and launched commercially in October 2000 with Vodafone as a major shareholder. Its M-PESA mobile money service, launched in 2007, became the centre of its business, and its 2008 listing on the Nairobi Securities Exchange was one of the largest share sales in East Africa. In June 2026 Vodacom completed the purchase of further stakes from the Kenyan government and Vodafone to take a 55 percent effective holding, a deal that remains under appeal in the Kenyan courts.
1999 to today · 22 dated events · 10 sources
Where it stands now · as of 31 October 2026
Safaricom is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange and led by chief executive Peter Ndegwa. Vodacom completed the purchase of a 55 percent effective stake on 30 June 2026, but a High Court judgment on a petition against the deal is under appeal, with the status quo maintained pending a fast-tracked hearing.
group service revenue, year to 31 March 2026KSh 414.1bncompany annual report
net income excluding minority interest, same yearKSh 95.6bn
one-month active M-PESA customers in Kenya40.99 million31 March 2026
Ethiopia licence fee bid$850m2021
Overview · 1999 to 13 Oct 2026 · click a dot to jump
1999
2000
2000
Vodafone becomes a strategic shareholder
Vodafone acquired a 40 percent holding in 2000, according to Safaricom's history. It still held 40 percent after the 2008 share offer.
Oct 2000
Commercial launch under Michael Joseph
Safaricom officially launched in October 2000, with Michael Joseph appointed chief executive that year.
· · · 77 months later
2007
Mar 2007
Turning point
M-PESA launched
Safaricom launched M-PESA, a service for sending and storing money by mobile phone, developed with Vodafone.
· · · 15 months later
2008
9 Jun 2008
Turning point
Shares begin trading after government sells 25 percent
Safaricom shares began trading on the Nairobi Stock Exchange after the government sold a 25 percent stake in an offer that raised about $833 million and was more than 400 percent oversubscribed, Telecoms.com reported. The government kept 35 percent and Vodafone 40 percent.
· · · 29 months later
2010
Nov 2010
Bob Collymore becomes CEO
Bob Collymore succeeded Michael Joseph as chief executive, according to The Star.
· · · 20 months later
2012
2012
M-Shwari savings and loans launched
Safaricom launched M-Shwari, a savings and credit product, with a partner bank now known as NCBA.
2013
2013
Lipa na M-PESA merchant payments
Safaricom launched Lipa na M-PESA for payments to merchants.
2014
2014
4G network launched
Safaricom launched its 4G network.
· · · 60 months later
2019
2019
Fuliza overdraft service launched
Safaricom launched Fuliza, an overdraft facility for M-PESA users.
Jul 2019
Michael Joseph returns as acting CEO
After Collymore died in June 2019 following treatment for cancer, former chief executive Michael Joseph returned in an acting capacity, The Star reported.
24 Oct 2019
Peter Ndegwa named CEO
Safaricom's board named Peter Ndegwa, then managing director of Diageo Continental Europe, as chief executive with effect from 1 April 2020.
2020
2020
M-PESA brand acquired through Vodacom joint venture
Safaricom acquired the M-PESA brand through a joint venture with Vodacom, according to the company's history.
1 Apr 2020
Ndegwa takes office
Ndegwa's appointment took effect on the date set by the board.
· · · 15 months later
2021
2021
5G trials begin
Safaricom launched 5G trials, according to its history.
22 May 2021
Turning point
Safaricom-led consortium wins Ethiopia licence
Ethiopia's prime minister announced that a consortium led by Safaricom, with Vodafone, Vodacom, CDC Group and Sumitomo, had won a telecoms licence with a bid of $850 million, according to Kenya's embassy in Addis Ababa.
· · · 55 months later
2025
4 Dec 2025
Vodacom agrees to take majority control
Vodacom announced it had agreed to buy 15 percent of Safaricom from the Government of Kenya and 5 percent from Vodafone, raising its holding to 55 percent, for a total of $2.1 billion, equal to KSh 34 per share. Its subsidiary also agreed to pay the government KSh 40.2 billion upfront for the right to future dividends on the government's remaining shares.
2026
7 May 2026
Results for the year to March 2026
Safaricom reported group service revenue of KSh 414.1 billion and net income excluding minority interest of KSh 95.6 billion for the year to 31 March 2026, according to its annual report. It reported 13.63 million three-month active customers in Ethiopia and 40.99 million one-month active M-PESA customers in Kenya.
26 Jun 2026
Court of Appeal lifts order blocking the sale
The Court of Appeal in Nairobi allowed the Attorney General's application and lifted a conservatory order that had held up the stake sale, according to Vodacom.
30 Jun 2026
Turning point
Vodacom deal takes effect
Vodacom said its subsidiary bought the government's 15 percent by block trade on the Nairobi Securities Exchange and that it acquired an effective 5 percent from Vodafone, completing the acquisition and raising its effective holding to 55 percent.
15 Sep 2026
High Court judgment on petition against the sale
The High Court of Kenya delivered a judgment on a petition challenging aspects of the acquisition. Vodacom said it would appeal and seek a stay pending the appeal.
13 Oct 2026
Court of Appeal orders status quo and fast-tracks appeal
The Court of Appeal in Nairobi did not decide the stay application but directed that the appeal be fast-tracked and that the status quo be kept. Vodacom said its subsidiary remains the registered holder of the shares and that the purchase money paid to the government is to be preserved pending the appeal.
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Sources
10 records, ranked by type- 1Subject's own statementJul 2022Our Safaricom Journey (Annual Report 2022)Safaricom PLC · safaricom.co.ke
- 2News report9 Jun 2008Safaricom IPO kicks offTelecoms.com · telecoms.com
- 3News report24 Oct 2019Safaricom appoints Peter Ndegwa as new CEOThe Star (Kenya) · the-star.co.ke
- 4Government document22 May 2021Safaricom Consortium wins Ethiopia Licence Bid of $850 millionEmbassy of the Republic of Kenya in Addis Ababa · kenyaembassyaddis.org
- 5News report7 May 2026Safaricom records Ksh.100B in profits as revenue hits Ksh.414BCitizen Digital · citizen.digital
- 6Subject's own statement4 Dec 2025Acquisition of a further 20% interest in Safaricom PLCVodacom Group Limited (JSE SENS announcement) · vodacom.com
- 7Subject's own statementJul 2026Safaricom PLC Annual Report 2026Safaricom PLC · safaricom.co.ke
- 8Subject's own statement30 Jun 2026Update on the acquisition of a further 20% interest in Safaricom PLCVodacom Group Limited (JSE SENS announcement) · vodacom.com
- 9Subject's own statement15 Sep 2026Update on the acquisition of a controlling interest in Safaricom PLCVodacom Group Limited (JSE SENS announcement) · vodacom.com
- 10Subject's own statement16 Oct 2026Update on the acquisition of a controlling interest in Safaricom PLC, stay order applicationVodacom Group Limited (JSE SENS announcement) · vodacom.com
Last updated 31 October 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Every event links to the record it comes from. Allegations are attributed to whoever made them.