Safaricom has introduced Daraja 3.0 which is a key upgrade of the M-Pesa API platform. M-Pesa has always relied on the developer community to expand its reach and capability. Daraja 3.0 is a clear sign that Safaricom wants the next decade of innovation to be powered by builders.
Built for Fintech 2.0
The move to Daraja 3.0 reflects a shift to what Safaricom calls Fintech 2.0. For developers, this means an environment that supports more advanced use cases, integrates more cleanly with modern development practices and reduces the operational pain points that have been common with earlier versions.
The goal is to create an API platform that developers can rely on when building products that need speed, stability and security.
Esther Waititu, Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom PLC, reaffirmed the company’s commitment, “Daraja 3.0 is a gateway to the next frontier of fintech. By empowering developers secure, scalable, and intuitive tools, we are unlocking new possibilities in digital finance and financial wellness. Developers play a critical role in the M-PESA ecosystem as we celebrate 25 years, we look forward to shaping the next era together”.
A Cloud Native Approach
One of the key technical changes is the move to a cloud native architecture. For developers, this may translate to practical benefits such as:
- More reliable uptime
- Faster responses to API calls
- Quicker rollout of fixes and feature updates
- Better handling of scale during high traffic periods
Many developers have previously experienced slow callbacks or unexpected downtime. Daraja 3.0 is designed to address those frustrations and to give businesses the confidence to run critical services on top of M-Pesa.
Smart API Capabilities
Daraja 3.0 expands the API catalog with features that directly address developer needs. Take an example of the new Security APIs that introduce tools that can help with fraud detection, identity verification and safer transaction flows. This is important at a time when fintech services are becoming more complex and security risks are rising.
Developers can also build and host solutions directly inside the M-Pesa Super App. This gives instant access to millions of users and eliminates the cost of building and distributing standalone applications. For many small teams, this can reduce time to market.
Tools for Building New Products
The updated product APIs open opportunities across multiple sectors. Developers can create specialised financial services for insurance, transport, retail, health and other industries without building everything from scratch. M-Pesa is positioning itself as a foundation for building entire digital experiences and not just a payment layer.
If the ecosystem adopts these capabilities widely, we may see a new generation of lightweight fintech tools designed for real world African use cases.
Commitment to the Dev community
One of the strongest messages from the launch is Safaricom’s emphasis on co creation. Developers have always played a central role in the growth of M-Pesa. With Daraja 3.0, Safaricom appears ready to deepen that collaboration by giving developers better infrastructure, more transparent systems and a platform that will evolve more quickly.
The company’s long term goal is to become a purpose driven technology leader in Africa. That vision is not realistic without a strong developer ecosystem.
As Safaricom marks 25 years of impact, Daraja 3.0 sets the stage for a new era of developer-driven growth and smarter financial technology across the continent.
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Also Read: How Safaricom Is Shaping FinTech 2.0 in Africa
