Safaricom brought its weeklong M-PESA Sokoni caravan to a close on Saturday with a festival at Mamboleo Stadium, drawing residents from Kisumu and surrounding areas.
The event marked the 18th anniversary of the mobile money platform and featured local businesses, prize giveaways, and live performances by prominent Kenyan artists.
According to Safaricom, more than 100 vendors took part in the market-style fair, selling electronics, clothing, household goods, and travel packages at discounted rates.
Company executives said the initiative aimed to thank customers, promote small businesses, and boost local commerce.
“Merchants play a critical role in driving our local economy… Their success is our collective success,” said Esther Waititu, Safaricom’s Chief Financial Services Officer.
For some vendors, the day translated into higher-than-usual sales. Kisumu shoe seller Felix Kamadi told reporters he sold nearly triple his normal daily stock, adding that the exposure to new customers was valuable for his business.
Festival-goers also took part in prize competitions, including the “M-PESA or the Box” game, in which Kisumu resident Cynthia Meyo won KES 180,000. Smaller rewards included shopping vouchers, electronics, and smartphones.
The evening concluded with performances by artists including Khaligraph Jones, King Kaka, Musa Jakadala, Ssaru, Meja, Apesi, and Coster Ojwang.
The Kisumu event was the final stop in a tour that began earlier in the week across towns in Western and Nyanza regions. Alongside the markets, the caravan featured forums for entrepreneurs, awards for M-PESA agents, and youth-oriented programmes.
Safaricom says the caravan will head to Nairobi next, marking the end of the M-PESA Sokoni regional tours ahead of the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations in October.
