Esther Masese Waititu began her career in banking at 23 as a graduate trainee, boldly telling the bank's CEO she aspired to take his job one day. This early confidence foreshadowed her steady ascent through Kenya's corporate landscape.
After 13 years in banking, including senior roles at Standard Bank and KCB Group, she joined Safaricom in 2023 as Chief Financial Services Officer. Her three-year tenure coincided with major innovations that reshaped M-Pesa from a simple payment service into a comprehensive financial ecosystem.
Transforming M-Pesa
- Led the migration of M-Pesa to a cloud-native Fintech 2.0 architecture
- Launched Daraja 3.0, opening M-Pesa's platform to developers
- Introduced financial inclusion products like Pochi la Biashara, Tuunza Mapato, and device insurance
- Rolled out Ziidi Trader, enabling customers to trade shares on the Nairobi Securities Exchange directly via mobile
These initiatives earned her the nickname "Mama M-Pesa" as she worked to deepen financial inclusion and build wealth opportunities for ordinary Kenyans.
Departure and Future Prospects
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa announced Ms Waititu's departure effective July 31, 2026, as she seeks new opportunities. In a LinkedIn post, she emphasized her vision of making M-Pesa a lifeline platform that supports savings, borrowing, insurance, and investment for millions.
Her career journey—from serving coffee to leading fintech innovation—reflects resilience and ambition. She credits her upbringing, education, and personal experiences, including motherhood, for shaping her leadership style and values.
Known for her passion for music, art, and travel, Ms Waititu advocates for enjoying life and focusing on quality experiences over material wealth.
As she prepares to leave Safaricom, industry watchers speculate that a CEO role may be her next step. She has hinted at sharing details of her next venture soon.
