Episode info

In this episode of Voices & Visions, Ivana Heijnen speaks with Andrew Mutha, Chief Product Officer at Safaricom, and Peter Gichangi, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Safaricom, to explore the evolution of M-Pesa and its role in shaping Kenya’s digital economy.

What began as a simple mobile money service has grown into a critical layer of financial infrastructure, supporting payments, savings, credit, insurance, investments, and cross-border transactions for millions of people.

The conversation explores how technology, regulation, connectivity, and institutional trust came together to create one of the world’s most influential financial ecosystems.

The episode covers:
The evolution of M-Pesa from mobile money to a broader financial ecosystem
Digital identity, connectivity, and infrastructure as foundations for financial inclusion
The role of regulation and public-private collaboration in enabling innovation
Trust as a critical component of scaling financial services
Credit access, SME financing, and expanding economic participation
Cross-border payments and the growing interconnectedness of African markets
Lessons from Kenya’s experience for financial systems around the world.

A thoughtful conversation about infrastructure, trust, and the systems that enable economic growth at scale.

Produced by Tutto Passa Agency, in partnership with Tech Cabal.

ANDREW MUTHA & Peter Gichangi

Andrew Mutha and Peter Gichangi hold senior leadership roles at Safaricom, the company behind M-Pesa, Kenya’s pioneering mobile money platform and one of the most influential financial infrastructures developed in the Global South.

Together, they operate at the intersection of telecommunications, payments, financial inclusion, and digital infrastructure, bringing a first-hand perspective on how M-Pesa evolved from a simple money transfer service into a foundational layer of Kenya’s economy. Their work provides insight into how technology, trust, regulation, and distribution networks combined to reshape access to financial services for millions of individuals and businesses.

Andrew Mutha leads Safaricom’s international money transfer business, overseeing the cross-border payment systems that connect Kenyan consumers and businesses to regional and global financial networks. Peter Gichangi has held multiple leadership positions across Safaricom, including serving within the CEO’s Office, where he has been closely involved in the strategic evolution of the organisation and the broader M-Pesa ecosystem.

Safaricom: https://www.safaricom.co.ke/

Andrew Mutha (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-mutha-199582113/
Peter Gichangi (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/mainagichangi/?skipRedirect=true