Safaricom boss Bob Collymore has associated the performance of the Company to increased revenues from the company’s non-voice services such as M-PESA and mobile internet data. Kenya’s most profitable Company will pay dividends to its shareholders from its profits amounting to 80%.
Safaricom customers have increased by eight percent to reach 23.3 million subscribers and to give them better services.
“It’s a lot of stuff, managing our costs well. We have grown our revenues, we have acquired more customers and of course more usage, more people using data,” said Mr. Collymore.
Safaricom’s revenue increase has been driven by increased revenue from mobile data and the M-PESA mobile money transfer service. The increase is by thirteen percent and one hundred and sixty-three percent.
There has also been an increase in the use of smartphone use with earnings from mobile data growing by 59% to Kshs. 14.8 billion whereas a revenue growth of 23% was recorded.
“We have seen more than one hundred percent growth in smartphone use and a move from feature phones to smartphones. This has added more value to customers,” he added.
Revenue from its voice services, which accounted for 56 percent of its revenue, increased by a marginal 3.7 percent to Kshs. 87.4 billion.
Compared to the previous financial year, Safaricom shareholders will receive a 64% dividend per share, a rise translating to a record of Kshs. 25.6 billion total dividend payout.
This represents a high profit that was just made recently by the company.
“The board kindly agreed to extend my term by two years, so you will have to suffer my jokes until August 2017,” added Mr. Collymore. “I think the legacy should be to build a strong institution of transforming lives, and we want to make sure this company continues to run.”
Mr. Collymore will continue to serve the company as the CEO, he took over from Michael Joseph in August 2010.