How Mobile is Transforming Lives in Kenya and Beyond

There is nothing as constant as change. We are living in strange times, times where change is inevitable. The train has long left the station, the train of change and those not yet on board risk being overtaken and left stranded.

One inevitable change in the present world is that of technology. The technological wave is sweeping across the world and with the advent of a mobile phone, the world is just on another level.

Through connectivity, mobile operators in Kenya, Africa and around the world are transforming lives. According to a report by MasterCard Foundation, Kenya is still ahead of other countries in the world for financial inclusion all thanks to the power of a mobile phone.

The Communication Authority of Kenya puts the mobile penetration at more than 90 percent with 38.9 million Kenyans having access to a mobile phone. In 2017, the CA released a report that showed that the internet penetration in the country had jumped by 12.5 percent to 51.1 million users.

In an ever-changing and challenging world, mobile has the power to create a better future for all. For some people, mobile is already making a world of difference.

In the journey to find out the power of mobile and the impact on millions of users, especially millennial influencers, the Case For Change initiative was born. Through this campaign, people around the world are telling their stories about how mobile is transforming their lives and how mobile was their only companion in the time of need.

Despite the numerous developments in the country, statistics show that 40 percent of Kenyans cannot afford to seek treatment from hospitals when they need it. Most Kenyans leave in abject poverty they have always to choose between putting food on their table and paying for their medical care or for their loved ones.

Lack of a stable income, inadequate information to financial planning and saving for the future is the key contributor to Kenyans in most areas being unable to cover the unexpected medical expenses.

Technology is, however, changing the narrative. With M-PESA being the driving force behind Kenya’s success for financial inclusion, many Kenyans are increasingly being empowered to have access to finances as well as medication.

Safaricom Limited in partnership with CarePay and PharmAccess came up with M-Tiba that was aimed at giving thousands of Kenyans opportunity of controlling their finances as well as paying for their medical expenses.