Listed telecommunications service provider Safaricom sustained over 1.2 million jobs and contributed Ksh.909.5 billion to the Kenyan economy in the past financial year.

This is contained in the telco’s 12th Sustainable Business Report which puts the contribution at 15 times more than the financial profit made during the year.

The telco attributes this to the value created for customers, agents, and merchants through M-PESA as well as the growth in economic impact created through Safaricom’s capital and operational expenditures during the period under review.

“Sustainability reporting is not just a corporate responsibility but an essential pillar of our business strategy. Being accountable on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ensures that we remain committed to our core--Transforming Lives,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom PLC.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Sheilla Ochugboju, the Executive Director, Alliance for Science lauded Safaricom for articulating the journey to the future through data.

"Science forms the foundation for technology then upon that, innovations are built. To make that leaper faith where technology can die and really never come back to life...  you need vision, ambition and courage. You need to be able to articulate.... Where do we want to be as a people, where do we want to live and how does technology underpin that," said Dr Ochogboju.

She added: "So I want to commend Safaricom for embedding meaning into the words of sustainability and embedding this within business practices and then linking it so clearly to a narrative of global challenges and inviting partners like ourselves and others to say technology is one part of the solution that is going to help us get to a better place."

Mr Adil Khawaja, Chairperson of the Safaricom Board said: “We are proud to be a catalyst for positive change in Kenya, Ethiopia, and the rest of the world. We will continue to innovate, adapt, and work diligently to ensure that Safaricom continues to connect millions to financial services, empowering communities and driving economic growth.”