Safaricom has named 20-year-old Yvonne Wanjiku Kang’ara as the first KES 1 million winner in its ongoing “Shangwe @25″ consumer promotion.
Ms. Kang’ara, a resident of Ngeu, Kiambu County, won the grand prize after purchasing a KES 20 data bundle using M-PESA, which automatically entered her into the draw. The promotion is a cornerstone of the telecommunications firm’s 25th-anniversary celebrations.
Overwhelmed by the win, Ms. Kang’ara initially believed the notification call was fraudulent.
“I am still in shock that the KES 20 I used to buy a data bundle has turned me into a millionaire,” she stated. “When I received the call, I thought it was a fraud until my mom and I confirmed the number as the official Safaricom line (0722000000).”
She outlined her plans for the prize money, which include furthering her education, helping her mother establish a business, and building a home for her grandmother in Londiani.
In addition to the KES 1 million, Ms. Kang’ara will also receive KES 250,000 to donate to a community project of her choice. She has pledged to support a local children’s home with food, bedding, and other essential items.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa commented on the win, “Today, we celebrate our first millionaire under the newly launched Shangwe @25 campaign. It’s heartwarming to see how a simple KES 20 data bundle can transform a life, turning a young Kenyan like Yvonne into a millionaire.”
Safaricom states that the “Shangwe @25” campaign aims to reward over 5 million customers with prizes valued at more than KES 250 million.
The promotion will ultimately award 25 grand prizes of KES 1 million to individual customers, each of whom will also receive a KES 250,000 community project fund. For businesses, Safaricom is giving away 25 Bajaj tricycles to small and micro-business owners, 25 stock packages worth KES 250,000, and 15 grants of KES 500,000 for larger enterprises to fund their own community projects. This is in addition to daily prizes of airtime, data bundles, and instant M-PESA cash.
Customers can participate by making transactions on the Safaricom network. Eligible activities include using M-PESA (such as sending money, Buy Goods, or Pochi La Biashara), purchasing voice or data bundles, redeeming Bonga Points, or subscribing to Safaricom Home Fibre.
Merchants and M-PESA agents are also eligible to win prizes based on qualifying transactions.
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