Safaricom and M-Pesa Foundation, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, unveiled the “Citizens of the Future Education Programme,” aiming to equip students with digital skills and leadership competencies for a rapidly evolving economy.
Speaking during the event at Nairobi’s Movenpick Hotel, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the project represents the company’s commitment to preparing Kenya’s youth for a technology-driven future.
“We have about 10 to 11,000 high schools across the country. However, not all of them have the infrastructure to offer digital skills,” Ndegwa said. “It is extremely heartwarming to see young people interacting with a computer for the first time. We are preparing them for a digital future.”
Ndegwa emphasized that equipping learners with 21st-century tools would not only transform classrooms but also secure Kenya’s competitiveness in the global economy.
“We cannot talk about preparing students for a digital future when they don’t have the facilities to use,” he said.
M-Pesa Foundation Chairman Nicholas Ng’ang’a said the new programme is a continuation of Safaricom’s long-standing mission to transform lives.
“From the start of Safaricom through the years of Michael Joseph, Bob Collymore, and now Peter, we have had one abiding objective, to change people’s lives for the better,” Ng’ang’a said.
Ng’ang’a added that the initiative will build on earlier successes such as the Safaricom and M-Pesa Foundations’ education and health projects.
“We started the M-Pesa Foundation after Safaricom became so successful, to find a way of using our investments to change lives daily,” he said. “This next project is the next big thing, to create citizens of the future who will be our leaders in the next 20, 30, or 40 years.”
The foundation aims to support 500 students annually, up from the current 100, offering them access to quality education and digital literacy programmes.
“It’s not about changing 100 students a year,” Ng’ang’a said. “It’s about changing 500, giving them an education they wouldn’t normally get if they had to struggle alone.”
Ndegwa reiterated that the success of such programmes depends on collaboration.
“This is not just about Safaricom, it’s about partnerships,” he said. “The Ministry of Education and our partners have supported us on this journey. Without them, we could not do it.”
Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Julius Bitok, commented on the initiative, calling it an example of effective public-private partnership.
“This collaboration between the private sector and the government has been the single biggest impact on our national education system,” he said. “We must train with a clear lens, not for the sake of finishing a curriculum but to fill real gaps in the job market.”
Bitok also urged the private sectors to work closely with learning institutions to align training with industrial needs.
“We can no longer train without purpose. Industry must help shape the curriculum to ensure our graduates are employable,” he added.
The Citizens of the Future Programme will focus on enhancing digital literacy, creativity, and innovation across Kenya’s schools, while addressing accessibility for learners with disabilities, he highlighted.
Bitok concluded by urging all stakeholders, from corporates to county governments to take part in this activity.
“Success will mean inspiring other private sector players to support education,” he said. “It cannot be left to government alone. Ten years from now, we want to see Kenyan students competing globally, leading innovation, and shaping the digital economy.”
