Safaricom Celebrates Its 18th Birthday

PRESS RELEASE -- NAIROBI, Kenya -- Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) is this week marking its 18th anniversary since the official launch on October 23rd, 2000.

As part of 18th anniversary celebrations that began this week, the mobile operator today unveiled a new brand campaign targeted at reinforcing its commitment to customers.

The campaign, dubbed Nawe Kila Wakati, is aimed at deepening customer engagement by positioning the brand as an enabler, in line with Safaricom’s business strategy of putting the customer first and delivering relevant products and services.

“We understand the impact of the current economic climate on Kenyans all over the country, so Nawe Kila Wakati is a promise to our customers that we will continue to enable them to communicate, socialize and do business using our network, by making voice, data and SMS more affordable,” said Sylvia Mulinge, Director of Special Projects – Safaricom.

From the left: Safaricom Former CEO and Board Member Michael Joseph cuts the cake with Maggie Wazome, Mpesa Foundation Academy Sharon Wanjiru, and Safaricom Director Special Projects Sylvia Mulinge during the 'Safaricom at 18' celebrations.

As part of the campaign Safaricom unveiled a customer promotion that will see customers enjoy more affordable calls, SMS and data.

The promotion, dubbed 18For18, will see customers enjoy 18 minutes of talk time every day for only KES 18, allowing them to make calls across local networks for KES 1 per minute up to 12th December 2018. The offer will be redeemable once a day for each customer and will be valid for 24 hours from time of purchase.

“Kenyans are tough; we are resilient, innovative and optimistic. This promotion is Safaricom’s way of not only thanking Kenyans for their support over the last 18 years, it is our way of showing that we are here to walk with them as they navigate a rapidly changing economic landscape, by giving them greater value,” said Ms Mulinge.

Individual PostPay subscribers will be rewarded with a 10 per cent discount on their October bills, while Enterprise PostPay customers will also be rewarded discounts customized to their needs. Safaricom Home Fibre customers will enjoy 18 per cent discounts when buying, renewing or upgrading their subscriptions between 1st and 18th November 2018.

Additionally, Safaricom is making it possible for customers to reactivate expired data bundles by simply purchasing a new data bundle within seven days after the bundle expiry date.

“Safaricom is a truly Kenyan brand that inspires hope and celebrates the inherent goodness and resilience of Kenyans, and one whose success can be attributed not just to those who work here, but to those we have served over the years, which is why we are celebrating our customers,” said Michael Joseph, Former CEO and Member of the Board of Directors – Safaricom.

To personalise the celebrations, each customer will be rewarded with a free 1GB data bundle and a special KES 1 per minute rate for voice calls on their birthday. The birthday reward will remain available beyond the period of the promotion, as a permanent offer.

To kick off the Nawe Kila Wakati and the 18For18 promotion, Kenyans around the country were treated to free bus rides, employees spread cheer to children in wards in selected hospitals and vendors in markets had their day’s stock bought and donated to children’s homes, among other celebrations.

ENDS