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Safaricom has revealed cases of money laundering tied to betting platforms utilizing its M-PESA mobile money service. These discoveries were made possible through advanced artificial intelligence systems aimed at enhancing financial oversight, as highlighted in the company’s 2025 Sustainable Business Report released on October 7.
The report indicates that Safaricom has introduced real-time transaction monitoring and machine-learning models to identify unusual patterns and assess risks within its network. These sophisticated tools analyze millions of transactions daily on M-PESA, which processes over 37 billion operations each year, valued at 38.3 trillion Kenyan shillings (€273 billion).
Over €12 million in inflated deposits discovered
In addition to identifying betting-related laundering, the AI systems flagged suspicious international transfers and uncovered inflated deposits totaling 1.7 billion shillings (€12 million) made by agents.
Moreover, Safaricom detected payments associated with 14 wildlife poachers and promptly reported these findings to Kenya’s Financial Reporting Centre. This proactive approach reflects Safaricom’s commitment to meeting regulatory standards and maintaining the integrity of its platform, which serves 35.8 million active users.
Kenya betting industry continues to face criticism
Kenya’s vibrant betting industry has attracted ongoing scrutiny from key authorities, including the Central Bank of Kenya and the Financial Reporting Centre. These organizations view the sector as susceptible to the infiltration of illicit funds stemming from activities like corruption and fraud.
The rapid digital payments enabled by M-PESA have made it a significant channel for these questionable transactions, prompting Safaricom to enhance its monitoring systems.
“Over the past 25 years, Safaricom has evolved into a purpose-led technology company guided by one simple mission: to transform lives by connecting people to people, people to opportunity and people to information,” CEO Peter Ndegwa highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability at the Safaricom Sustainability Summit held in Nairobi.
Although Safaricom did not disclose specific betting firms implicated in these activities, the company has stated that it is working closely with authorities to tackle the issue and curb any further illicit practices.
Source: Focus Gaming News Africa
