Why Safaricom is Blending Two Apps
For more than a decade, Safaricom kept its customers juggling two separate mobile applications. The M-PESA app started out as a financial wallet, while mySafaricom acted as the go‑to place for line management, airtime purchases and home broadband settings. Over time, the financial app grew into a "super app" – a marketplace that now hosts mini‑apps for ticket booking, insurance, shopping and even a Visa‑backed virtual card for streaming services abroad.
The latest beta rollout shows Safaricom slipping many of the self‑care tools that lived exclusively in mySafaricom into the M-PESA interface. Screens shared on social media illustrate a unified homepage where you can top up your line, check data balances and order a Home Fibre package without ever opening the older app. This consolidation is not just cosmetic; it reflects a strategic shift toward a single digital hub that can command both user attention and revenue streams.
What the Integration Means for Users and the Business
From a consumer perspective, the merge promises less friction. No more switching between apps to pay a bill, then opening another to change your router settings. A single sign‑in experience also means safer authentication, as Safaricom can apply the same AI‑driven fraud detection across all touchpoints. The new cloud‑native core, launched on 22 September 2025, underpins this ambition. It currently supports 6,000 transactions per second and scales to 12,000, offering 99% uptime even during peak evenings when money transfers spike.
Financially, the numbers are compelling. In the twelve months to March 2025, the M-PESA app processed KES 2.3 trillion (about $17.9 billion) and drove revenue up 15.2% to KES 161.1 billion. By pulling more services into the same platform, Safaricom can cross‑sell faster, boost average revenue per user, and collect richer data for targeted offers. The added services – from PayPal withdrawals to GlobalPay virtual cards – already blur the line between telecom and fintech, positioning Safaricom as a one‑stop digital shop for a country where mobile phones are the primary gateway to the internet.
However, gaps remain. Configuring 4G and 5G routers still requires a separate mini‑app, and Home Fibre management is not fully migrated. This means mySafaricom will not disappear overnight. Instead, it will likely stay alive as a niche tool for network‑specific tasks while the bulk of everyday interactions move to M-PESA.
Industry observers note that the two‑app reality has been a source of confusion for many users, especially those new to mobile money. By folding the best of both worlds – the robustness of a financial platform and the convenience of line management – Safaricom hopes to reduce churn and strengthen brand loyalty. The beta phase suggests a smooth UI transition, with icons for airtime, data bundles and home internet placed alongside loan offers and international card controls.
Looking ahead, the migration could set the stage for further expansion. The current super app already hosts third‑party mini‑apps, and a unified backend could make it easier for new partners to plug into Safaricom’s ecosystem. Imagine a future where a farmer can access weather data, micro‑insurance, and a loan, all without leaving the app. That vision aligns with Kenya’s broader ambition to become a hub for mobile‑first innovation.
For now, the key takeaway for customers is simple: expect to see more of your everyday telecom tasks appear inside the M-PESA app. Keep an eye on updates, and be ready to adopt a single, more powerful tool for everything from sending money to managing your home internet connection.
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