M-Shwari would have been called M-Jenga, thanks to the last-minute cheeky thought by founding CEO Michael Joseph, who joked that the public will link the platform to ex-Mungiki leader Maina Njenga.
In a captivating tale of how the lending platform that currently commands more than 18 million users came about, the telco's former chief finance officer, Sitoyo Lopokoiyit said that his team had to think fast for a new name.
The platform was launched in November 2013, six years after M-Pesa was launched on March 6, 2007.
These are some nostalgic memories shared during the commemoration of the Safaricom's money sending platform which turned 18 years on Friday (today).
Speaking during the occasion, Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe who was the country's ICT chief when the platform was unveiled termed M-Pesa as every person's story.
"Today, everyone has a story to tell about M-Pesa. It is a rich Kenyan story that cuts through villages and breaks international borders," Kagwe said.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said that the platform which has more than 34 million users is set to fly more.
