Safaricom unveiled the final five winners of KES 1 million on Monday in its nationwide Shangwe @25 consumer promotion, bringing the total number of new millionaires to 25.
The final winners: Quinter Akinyi Wanyama (Bungoma), Sheila Cherotich (Bomet), Fidel Mwendwa (Kitui), Geoffrey Mawira (Meru), and Grace Nyiva (Uthiru, Nairobi), join 20 other Kenyans whose lives have been transformed since the campaign launched in October 2025 to mark Safaricom’s 25th anniversary.
Each winner also received an additional KES 250,000 to fund community projects, ensuring their good fortune creates a ripple effect of positive change.
A Campaign of Shared Prosperity
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa hailed the initiative as a powerful reflection of the company’s commitment to transforming lives.
“I am truly delighted to see how successful Shangwe @25 has been and the positive impact it has created for millions of Kenyans. We have created 25 millionaires, with more than five million customers nationwide winning prizes worth a total of KES 250 million. This campaign reflects Safaricom’s ongoing commitment to transforming lives, empowering our customers, and supporting communities across the country,” said Ndegwa.
Earlier January, the campaign, Safaricom had announced five winners: Moses Elekana, Simon Magika, Faith Nyongesa, Brenda Chelagat, and Nasibo Abdi, who also received KES 1 million each and community project funds. Ndegwa noted then that the promotion was “uplifting families, strengthening communities, and supporting small businesses that form the backbone of our economy.”
Stories of Transformation
From Nairobi plumber Moses Elekana, who used his winnings to pay his son’s college fees and pledged his community fund to a functional needs school in Vihiga, to Kwale nursing student Faith Nyongesa, who plans to pursue advanced degrees while supporting teen mothers with healthcare, the campaign has showcased deeply personal stories of resilience and hope.
In Kerio Valley, teacher Brenda Chelagat nearly fainted when she learned she had won, describing the moment as “nothing short of miraculous.” She plans to invest in education and farming, while her community project will build sanitation facilities at her childhood school.
Brickmaker Simon Magika from Nyamira said he initially dismissed the call as fraud but later confirmed his win. He plans to build his mother a home and open a salon for his wife, while donating water tanks to a local school.
Young entrepreneur Nasibo Abdi from Isiolo also joined the millionaire ranks, describing the win as “still unbelievable.”
The Final Five
The closing chapter of Shangwe @25 brought equally powerful stories:
- Grace Nyiva, a 23-year-old single mother from Uthiru, Nairobi, called her win “a miracle.” She plans to set up a cereal shop for her mother, pay her daughter’s school fees, and enroll in college. Her community project will support unemployed youth with salon and car wash equipment to reduce drug abuse and create income opportunities.
- Quinter Akinyi Wanyama, a 38-year-old mother of five from Webuye, said she initially thought the call was a scam. She will expand her welding workshop and pay school fees for her children. Her community project will equip Mahanga PEFA School with lockers, chairs, and a printer.
- Sheila Cherotich, a 21-year-old sales agent from Bomet, described the win as “an opportunity to transform my family’s future.” She plans to buy land, build a house for her mother, and start a clothing business. Her community project will install water tanks at Chebunyo Health Centre.
- Fidel Mwendwa, a 25-year-old mechanic from Kitui, said:
“As an orphan from a young age, I have faced many struggles… I never imagined that one day God would bless me with a million shillings at this age.”
He plans to open his own workshop and will support Timboni Tiva Children’s Home with his community fund. - Geoffrey Mawira, a 52-year-old cobbler from Meru living with a disability, said the win will allow him to expand his workshop and buy a shoe-making machine to create opportunities for other disabled people. His community project will provide tents for Mujwa traders.
Wider Impact
Beyond individual winners, Safaricom also rewarded enterprise customers with stock worth KES 250,000 each to strengthen operations, while others received Tuk-Tuk pickups to support logistics.
Since its launch, Shangwe @25 has rewarded more than five million customers with prizes worth KES 250 million, ranging from cash and devices to household items, shopping vouchers, and even goats and chickens.
