Safaricom Decode 3.0: A Deep Dive into the Company’s Most Ambitious Tech Summit Yet
The third edition of Safaricom’s Decode Summit, held from March 18 to 20, 2025, at Sarit Expo Centre, was the most comprehensive and future-forward gathering the company has ever hosted. With over 10,000 young innovators, engineers, developers, and tech stakeholders joining in person, and thousands more tuning in online, Decode 3.0 was a three-day blueprint for how Safaricom intends to shape not just its own transformation from a telco (Telecommunications Company) to a techco (Technology Company)—but how it envisions Kenya’s broader digital destiny.
It was a masterclass in themes ranging from AI and cloud computing to climate resilience, gaming, smart manufacturing, developer empowerment, and inclusive financial systems.
Day 1: Building the Future Through Engineering and Innovation
Opening Remarks and Strategy
The summit opened with powerful statements from Safaricom leadership. James Maitai, Group CTO, outlined the transformative journey of Decode:
“From Decode 1.0 to 3.0, we’ve tripled in scale. But it’s not about size—it’s about legacy. This is our digital footprint.”
Peter Ndegwa, CEO, emphasized Safaricom’s evolution:
“We are no longer just a connectivity company—we are becoming Kenya’s technology backbone.”
These remarks set the stage for a day focused on strategic transformation and the foundational infrastructure needed to scale Kenya’s digital economy.
Sustainability and Green Infrastructure
Fred Waithaka, Acting Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, announced that Safaricom had already solarized over 1,432 base stations. He emphasized the need for environmentally conscious telecom infrastructure and introduced projects focused on modular construction, smart sensors for environmental monitoring, and eco-materials for site builds.
Renewable Energy and AI-Optimized Power Systems
James Langat, Head of Regional Network Implementation, detailed Safaricom’s adoption of AI to optimize energy use across solar and hybrid-powered network sites. Dennis Chepkwony, Senior Manager for Energy Management, showcased AI-driven monitoring systems that detect energy inefficiencies in real time. A panel with Delta Electronics and Ericsson explored how telcos can achieve sustainability without sacrificing reliability.
Cloud, AI Infrastructure and Edge Computing
Antony Gacanja, Director of Network, emphasized Safaricom’s move into multi-cloud environments and edge deployments:
“Our transformation depends on multi-cloud agility, edge computing, and intelligent systems.”
A live demo showcased how Safaricom is modernizing legacy systems while maintaining service continuity. Experts from Dell, Oracle, and Red Hat joined in a panel to explore hyperscale strategies and the future of data sovereignty in East Africa.
Future of Work and Education Technology
Fawzia Kimanthi, Chief Consumer Business Officer, addressed the need to prepare Kenya’s youth for a digital-first economy:
“We must uplift humans as we elevate machines.”
The day’s sessions included a panel on gamified, inclusive education solutions and a masterclass by Andela and the Cloud Native Foundation exploring how Kenya can position itself as a global exporter of tech talent.
Youth, Developers, and Innovation
Decode 3.0 also doubled down on talent development. Over 210 students graduated from Safaricom’s Accelerate program. The day saw the launch of the 254Legends Gaming Challenge, interactive sessions on Safaricom’s Hook mentorship program, and the Daraja API Challenge.
Day 2: Tech in Action — AI, Cybersecurity, FinTech, and Agriculture
Artificial Intelligence at Scale
Mark Oyier, Head of Digital BSS, presented a clear view of how AI is already embedded at Safaricom:
“6,000+ employees trained in AI. Zuri and Kazuri are not demos—they’re deployed.”
Demos showed AI in fraud detection, customer personalization, predictive maintenance, and internal operations.
Cybersecurity and Zero Trust Networks
Cynthia Kropac, Chief Enterprise Business Officer:
“Cybersecurity is a business imperative. Zero Trust isn’t an option—it’s a mandate.”
Safaricom reported 840 million cyber threat events between October and December 2024. Samuel Ochieng led a session explaining Zero Trust architecture. A panel with Microsoft, CopyCat, and FIRST highlighted proactive threat mitigation.
FinTech and the Rise of the Super App
A panel featuring Victor Odada (M-PESA), LOOP, CBK, and Visa explored seamless, intelligent payments. Safaricom demoed a unified super app integrating payments, insurance, savings, and wealth tools. Embedded finance and AI-driven credit scoring tools were showcased.
AgriTech and Smart Food Systems
Seema Gohil, Director of DigiFarm:
“AI chatbots, IoT sensors, and predictive tools are now farming essentials.”
Real-world use cases included sensor-based irrigation, blockchain-backed food traceability, and AI-powered advisory services. Panels included FSD Kenya and AgriTech investors.
Connectivity and Infrastructure Innovation
The day ended with digital twin simulations for forecasting network issues and optimizing coverage. 5G use cases demonstrated ultra-low latency for smart cities. Safaricom, Huawei, Ericsson, and Taara discussed resilient digital infrastructure.
Day 3: Gaming, Manufacturing, Climate, and Developer Excellence
Gaming and the Youth Economy
Fawzia Kimanthi:
“Gaming is not a side hustle. It’s a $200B economy. And East Africa is playing catch-up fast.”
Over 500 games are now available on Safaricom’s platforms. VR/AR demos powered by 5G highlighted gaming’s potential for youth empowerment. Ronny Lusigi (eSports Kenya) spoke on gamification for social impact.
New Announcements: Video Ring Back Tones and Daraja 3.0
Safaricom used Day 3 to unveil two major innovations:
Video Ring Back Tones (VRBT)
This feature transforms the traditional call waiting experience by playing a short video instead of just a ringtone.
Key Features:
- Custom Content: Users can select music videos, greetings, or brand clips.
- Business Use: Companies can promote offers or campaigns during call waiting.
- Monetization: Content creators can license videos for use, opening a new revenue stream.
VRBT is Safaricom’s attempt to turn idle moments into immersive, branded, or entertaining experiences, pushing boundaries of mobile engagement.
Daraja 3.0
An overhaul of Safaricom’s M-PESA developer platform, Daraja 3.0 introduces:
Key Enhancements:
- Advanced APIs: More secure, versatile, and easier to integrate.
- Better Developer Support: Extensive documentation, SDKs, tutorials, and onboarding tools.
- Smarter Sandbox: Improved testing environments for fewer live deployment errors.
Safaricom teased broader API access beyond payments, making Daraja a powerful toolkit for developers creating fintech, commerce, and logistics solutions across East Africa.
Climate Resilience and Innovation
Safaricom detailed climate initiatives:
- M-Salama: SMS-based disaster alert system
- Carbon Value Exchange: Fund community-based offsetting via M-PESA
- Air Quality Monitoring in urban zones
Panels discussed open climate data, financing green innovation, and inclusive sustainability.
Smart Manufacturing and Local Production
Michael Mutiga highlighted the East Africa Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK) plant:
“We’ve built over 1 million smartphones locally under $50.”
Sessions covered IP protection, affordable device production, and using AI in local assembly. John Tanui (PS, ICT) called for incentives to support Kenya’s manufacturing sector.
Awards and Developer Community Recognition
The summit concluded with recognition in:
- Customer Obsession
- Process Innovation
- Developer Impact
Safaricom also officially launched Daraja 3.0. James Maitai closed the summit:
“This Decode lit a flame. Decode 4.0 will spread it across Africa.”
Final Word: Safaricom’s Roadmap Is Now Public
Safaricom Decode 3.0 wasn’t a showcase. It was a roadmap.
Over three days, it offered a multi-sector, deeply integrated strategy rooted in collaboration and forward-looking innovation. From AI to green power, from M-PESA APIs to modular devices, Decode 3.0 made clear that Safaricom sees itself not as a telco—but as a foundational player in East Africa’s digital future.
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