Five More Kenyans Win KES 1 Million as Shangwe @25 Nears Final Week
Five more Kenyans have won KES 1 million each in the Shangwe @25 national consumer promotion, as the campaign heads into its final week. Each winner also received an additional KES 250,000 to support a community project of their choice.
Safaricom announced the latest winners on January 22, 2025, bringing the total number of millionaires created by the campaign to 20 since its launch last year.
The latest winners are Moses Elekana, Simon Magika, Faith Nyongesa, Brenda Chelagat, and Nasibo Abdi. The awards were presented during a ceremony held at Kangundo Road Market in Nairobi.
Speaking at the event, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the Shangwe @25 campaign continues to reflect the company’s commitment to shared prosperity.
“It is truly inspiring to see how this campaign continues to transform lives across the country. Beyond individual winners, we are seeing a ripple effect that is uplifting families, strengthening communities, and supporting small businesses. So far, we have created 20 Kenyan millionaires, with five more winners set to be crowned as we approach the final stretch,” said Ndegwa.
Lives Changed Across the Country
One of the winners, 55-year-old Moses Elekana from Nairobi, works as a plumber and described the moment he received the cheque as life-changing. A regular user of M-PESA, Elekana said he never imagined that his everyday transactions could turn him into a millionaire.
“I am still in shock. I work as a plumber and life has not been easy. Today, everything has changed,” he said. Elekana plans to pay college fees for his son and complete his shop and family home. For his community project, he chose to support the Salvation Army Madegwa Special School for Intellectual Disability in Vihiga County by contributing towards classroom construction.
In Kwale County, 29-year-old Faith Nyongesa, a second-year nursing student from Lunga Lunga, said she initially thought the call from Safaricom was a scam. After confirming at a Safaricom shop in Diani, reality sank in.
“I plan to use the money to further my education and eventually earn a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate in Nursing,” she said. Faith will use her community project funds to pay health insurance covers for teen mothers and vulnerable women in Lunga Lunga to improve access to antenatal care.
In the Kerio Valley, Brenda Chelagat, a 31-year-old primary school teacher at Kapkono Primary School, described nearly fainting when she received confirmation of her win.
“I had always seen people win on TV, but I never imagined I would be among them,” she said. Brenda plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in education and invest in farming. Her community project funds will go towards building proper sanitation facilities at Tugumoi Primary School, where she studied as a child.
Meanwhile, in Borabu, Nyamira County, 25-year-old Simon Magika, a father of three who earns a living making bricks, said he only believed the news after visiting a Safaricom shop.
“I plan to build my mother a decent home and open a salon for my wife,” he said. Simon also intends to donate water tanks to Nyagacho DOK Primary School using the community project funds.
In Isiolo, 19-year-old Nasibo Abdi, a young entrepreneur, is also among the latest winners and remains in disbelief after being confirmed as one of the new millionaires.
More Rewards Beyond Cash
Beyond individual winners, an enterprise customer, Robster Premium Fit Ltd, received stock worth KES 250,000 to support business growth. Douglas Onserio from Rongai also won a Tuk-Tuk pickup to enhance his business logistics.
Since its launch, the Shangwe @25 promotion has rewarded thousands of customers daily and weekly with cash prizes, data bundles, devices, and business support tools. Each week, more than 50,000 customers win KES 10,000, KES 50,000, or KES 100,000. Over the course of the campaign, more than five million customers are expected to win prizes worth a total of KES 250 million.
