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More women are buying M-KOPA phones, with many saying they could not have afforded a smartphone without the company’s flexible payment model.
According to M-KOPA’s 2025 Impact Report, 81% of women customers reported they would not own a smartphone today were it not for M-KOPA.
“Since 2020, M-KOPA has enabled 2.5 million first-time smartphone users, with 81% of women customers reporting they couldn’t afford a smartphone without M-KOPA,” read part of the statement.
The fintech has also recorded 3 million new active customers across Africa, mainly first-time smartphone users.
M-KOPA Surpasses 3 Million Active Customers
The company’s 2025 Impact Report reveals that 9 out of 10 active customers now say M-KOPA has improved their lives, up from 8 out of 10 last year.
The report further noted that, through its “More than a Phone” platform, 70 percent of M-KOPA customers use their smartphones to earn an income, and 59 percent report that their earnings have increased since acquiring the devices.
The company reports that 55 percent of its users are accessing their first formal financial product, with more than $2 billion in credit extended to over seven million everyday earners since 2011.
Also Read: M-KOPA Mobile Phone Hackers Caught in the Act
Since 2020, about 2.5 million people have become first-time smartphone users through M-KOPA. In 2025 alone, 40 percent of new customers were buying a smartphone for the first time, which the report says highlights the continued challenge of affordability.
Overall, the data show that access to smartphones not only connects customers but also helps them improve their financial standing and participate in the digital economy.
In 2024, M-KOPA’s local procurement spend totalled $236 million across all markets. Women represent 45% of M-KOPA’s agent network and 40% of all customers, with 86% reporting improved quality of life.
Also Read: M-KOPA Explained: How to Buy Motorbikes and Phones with Affordable Instalments
How to Qualify
The first phones sold under this service were the Nokia 2.1 and Nokia 2.2. Customers paid a down payment of Ksh 3,000, followed by daily installments of Ksh 60 for 330 days.
The same model was later applied to the Samsung Galaxy A10S, though the deposit was slightly higher and the repayment period extended to 365 days.
If you are interested in getting yourself the M-Kopa phone, here’s the procedure:
- Walk into a Safaricom shop or M-Kopa outlet with your National ID
- Pay a down payment of Ksh 3,500 through M-Pesa
- Walk away with your phone
From then on, you will be required to pay 60 bobs per day to use your phone through M-Kopa’s pay bill number 333222.
Failure to pay will result in the phone being locked, and you will lose access.
This remote locking is enabled through Samsung’s Knox security feature. If the phone locks before you make your daily payment, it will allow you to unlock the device once for five minutes to complete the payment.
M-Kopa also states that users can pay any amount above Ksh60, and that amount will be credited to their account. For example, paying Ksh600 will give you 10 days of usage.
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