Daniel Makau, a proprietor of a small hotel who was one of the winners of a Kshs 14 million fully furnished house
Safaricom is look to have more people using the Lipa Na M-PESA service.This is being done through the “Lipa Na M-Pesa Shinda A Home” competition.The first round winners of the house in the competition have been awarded with more to come.
Daniel Makau, the proprietor of a small hotel in Donholm, won the Sh14 million, fully furnished house after he paid for a shipment of beverages to his establishment via Lipa na M-PESA. The 50 year old man who currently shares a one bedroom flat with his family of four, says he was literally speechless when he received the call from Safaricom.
Mr. Duncan Okembaalso emerged a winner in the “Lipa Na M-PESA Shinda A Home†competition. An engineer by profession, Mr. Okemba, 27, is an employed businessman who travels frequently for trade purposes, won after making a Sh2,000 payment for an event ticket via the Lipa Na M-PESA PayBill option.
Safaricom has also announced an instant rewards system to incentivize customers who pay for fuel using Lipa Na M-PESA. Over 134,000 motorists have already received free talk time on the Safaricom network for every purchase of fuel worth Sh500 or more and the consumer incentive plan highlights the growing use of M-PESA as a payment channel.
Participants are eligible for free talk time if they purchase fuel from outlets operated by Total Kenya, Vivo Kenya (Shell), Oil Libya, KenolKobil, Gulf Energy, Gulf Energy, Pima Gas Dealers, Hashi, Galana Oil (Delta Stations), National Oil, Engen, among others
Speaking during the handover ceremony for the winners of the first round of its “Lipa Na M-PESA Shinda A Home†subscriber competition, Betty Mwangi, General Manager, Financial Services, Safaricom said that the fact that the service had witnessed such traction meant that it was quickly gaining acceptance as the preferred payment channel in Kenya.
Despite nine out of ten payments being made via cash, over 12.8 million Kenyans use M-PESA every month. There are now over32,000 distinct Lipa na M-PESA (buy goods and services option) in the country.
Safaricom is also awarding its merchants in the ongoing competition, and Mr. David Munyae, who owns David Munyae Distributors, was awarded with a pick up vehicle.
In addition to giving away a fully furnished house every week during the promotion, consumers will also win Kshs. 32 million in cash and 16 million worth of airtime.
Lipa Na M-PESA merchants also stand a chance to win a pick-up vehicle every two weeks. In addition, merchants will win Kshs. 40 million in cash.