M-KOPA Unlocks KES 207 Billion in Credit as New Impact Report Reveals Rise in Digital and Financial Inclusion

 

M-KOPA has released its first Kenya-specific Impact Report, revealing that the company has unlocked KES 207 billion in credit for its customers since 2010, marking one of the largest contributions to financial inclusion by a private digital lender in the country’s history. The report highlights M-KOPA’s widening reach across Kenya’s informal economy, particularly through affordable smartphone financing.

According to the report, the company has now served 4.9 million customers, with 4.5 million using smartphones financed through M-KOPA—including 2.1 million first-time smartphone owners. This expansion has significantly boosted digital access in low-income and underserved communities, enabling millions to access digital tools, online services, and new income opportunities.

Digital Access Transforming Livelihoods

The findings show a strong correlation between M-KOPA’s digital products and economic empowerment. Nearly 67 percent of customers use their M-KOPA devices to generate income, while 52 percent report higher earnings since joining the platform. For many, access to a smartphone serves as a gateway to digital work, mobile payments, and new business opportunities.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Impact Report in Nairobi, M-KOPA Kenya General Manager Martin Kingori emphasized the transformative nature of digital access for “Every Day Earners.”

“Kenya has always been the beating heart of M-KOPA’s progress journey,” Kingori said. “Our 2025 Impact Report demonstrates how inclusive financing, responsible lending, and digital innovation are transforming lives at scale. What matters most is the lived progress of Every Day Earners—9 out of 10 report an improved quality of life, and more than half are now earning more.”

Significant Economic Contributions

Beyond customer impact, the report highlights M-KOPA’s substantial contribution to Kenya’s local economy. The company now supports 14,000 sales agents and employs 1,320 people directly. In 2024 alone, M-KOPA contributed KES 3.79 billion in taxes and invested KES 20.3 billion in local procurement, demonstrating its broad economic footprint.

M-KOPA’s Nairobi smartphone assembly facility has produced two million devices, supporting local manufacturing jobs and advancing circular economy practices through repairs, refurbishments, and recycling processes.

Environmental Impact Through Clean Technology

The company’s clean-energy solutions have also made significant environmental contributions. M-KOPA reports having avoided a cumulative 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂e emissions through solar products, refurbished devices, and electric mobility initiatives. Its electric motorbike financing arm has grown rapidly, with over 5,000 e-motorbikes sold to date.

According to Brian Njao, General Manager – Mobility, the success of the electric motorbike program demonstrates the versatility of the PAYG financing model.

“Reaching 5,000 electric motorbikes shows how M-KOPA’s financing model works across asset classes,” Njao said. “Whether it’s a smartphone or an e-motorbike, we’re solving the same challenge—making expensive, income-generating assets accessible to people earning day by day. For riders, the impact is immediate: lower costs, higher earnings, and the dignity of building toward ownership. This is financial inclusion meeting climate action.”

Powering Growth Through Strategic Partnerships

M-KOPA attributes much of its success to strong partnerships with organizations including Safaricom, Bolt, Turaco, Ampersand, Roam, Spiro, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These collaborations have helped scale distribution networks, enhance product financing options, stimulate innovation, and support policy advocacy, ultimately expanding access and affordability for millions of customers.

Looking Ahead

The report indicates that M-KOPA plans to expand its local manufacturing capacity, deepen digital financial services, and strengthen partnerships aligned with Kenya’s national development blueprints. These include the Digital Economy Blueprint and Vision 2030, which prioritize inclusive growth, digital transformation, and technological competitiveness.

With its growing portfolio of digital, financial, and clean-energy assets, M-KOPA says it aims to continue charting a path toward a more inclusive and climate-resilient economy—helping millions more Kenyans access the tools they need to improve their livelihoods.