TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia has over six years of experience in financial, business, technology, and climate reporting, which offers deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Safaricom PLC has emerged as a certified top employer in Kenya and Africa based on its human resource (HR) policies and people practices.

The leading telecommunications firm won the award for the fourth year running during the Global Awards 2025, which were hosted by the Top Employer Institute (TEI).

Safaricom first received the Top Employer certification in 2022 and has retained it four years in a row.

The institute reviews employer practices across six HR domains, which consist of 20 areas, including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity and inclusion, Well-being, and more.

TEI ranked Safaricom based on these practices, which the company has leveraged in the past 24 years.

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa attributed the award to the strong employer brand that the telco has created over the years.

“We are pleased to be recognised as a top employer alongside some of Africa’s biggest companies. This certification is an endorsement of the strong employer brand that Safaricom has created over the years by providing an agile working environment and numerous opportunities for employees to grow in their chosen crafts,” said Ndegwa, in a press statement.

This came as Safaricom created more than one million jobs for Kenyans in the year ending December 2024, contributing significantly to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The telco sustained 263,757 direct and indirect jobs for Kenyans during the year.

The award, established over 30 years ago, recognises excellence in People Practices.

The Top Employers Institute Certification Programme has so far recognised over 2,400 top employers in 125 countries/regions across five continents.

Other companies that received that certification are Vodacom Group, Vodacom South Africa, Vodacom Mozambique, and Vodacom Tanzania.

Top Employers Institute CEO David Plink said the 2025 Top Employers Certification Programme showcases the resilience of the certified top employers, who consistently prioritise the growth and wellbeing of their people.

“In a time of rapid change—where technological, economic, and social factors continually reshape our world—these extraordinary times bring out the best in people and organisations. We are proud to celebrate these people-first leaders and teams as the Top Employers for 2025,” said Plink.

The award comes as Safaricom gears up to celebrate 25 years of transforming lives and is laying the foundations to be Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030.

Safaricom recently marked 24 years of service since it entered the Kenyan telecommunications market in 2000.

The leading telco in the country provided different offers and gifts for customers, including internet price discounts, refunds of M-Pesa transaction fees and the recent free airtime voucher.

Source: TUKO.co.ke