This year’s Mother’s Day celebrations took on a warmer, more personal tone across select Naivas stores in Kenya, thanks to a heartening collaboration between the retail chain and mobile money platform M-PESA.
At the centre of the activation was a QR-based lucky draw, designed to bring a moment of joy to everyday shopping.
Shoppers who scanned a QR code using the M-PESA app were automatically entered into a draw for instant rewards.
No forms, no queues, just a seamless and thoughtful gesture.
One of the most vibrant turnouts was at Naivas Embakasi, where banners bearing the campaign message stood tall at the entrance.
By mid-morning, families had begun arriving—some with children tagging along, others with lists in hand, all with one thing in common: they were shopping with someone special in mind.
For Naivas, known for its family-centric approach to retail, and M-PESA, a leader in digital payments, the collaboration was less about marketing and more about meaning. Customers found themselves surprised and delighted by the simplicity of the offer and the thought behind it.
“The initiative was about giving back in the most everyday, accessible way,” said one Naivas store manager.
“It’s not just about discounts or promotions—it’s about making people feel seen.”
Throughout the weekend, social media lit up with candid moments: children handing flowers to their mums, families posing with surprise gift hampers, and smiles shared in store aisles.
At its core, the campaign struck a chord because it wasn’t flashy. It was personal.
A mother buying groceries, a son picking out a favourite treat, or a father letting his kids choose something for mum.
These small moments were the real heart of the celebration.
By day’s end, many families left with more than a full trolley.
They walked away with stories and gestures that lingered longer than the weekend.
This Mother’s Day, Naivas and M-PESA showed that appreciation doesn’t always need to be grand, it just needs to be genuine.
