Safaricom Upgrades Its M-PESA API Platform

Safaricom PLC has unveiled Daraja 3.0, a major upgrade to its M-PESA API platform, introducing cloud-native architecture, enhanced security features, and new capabilities for developers to build Mini Apps within the M-PESA Super App.

The rollout marks a strategic shift toward what Safaricom calls “Fintech 2.0” as the company celebrates its 25th anniversary. The upgraded platform positions M-PESA as a full digital ecosystem rather than a payments utility, aligning with the company’s ambition to become Africa’s leading purpose-led technology entity by 2030.

Daraja 3.0 is designed to deliver higher uptime, faster responsiveness, and improved reliability through a modern, cloud-native foundation. The upgrade also strengthens security with dedicated Security APIs for fraud detection, prevention, and identity verification, a key concern as financial cyber threats escalate.

A core highlight is the addition of Mini App capabilities, allowing third-party developers to build lightweight applications that run inside the M-PESA Super App. This gives businesses immediate access to millions of active users without requiring separate app downloads, mirroring successful global Super App models such as WeChat and AliPay.

Officiating the launch, Esther Waititu, Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom PLC, emphasised the company’s commitment to co-creation with the developer community.

“Daraja 3.0 is a gateway to the next frontier of fintech,” she said. “By empowering developers with 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, and as we celebrate 25 years, we look forward to shaping the next era together.”

The launch responds directly to long-standing feedback from Kenya’s tech ecosystem. Previous complaints about inconsistent documentation and limited sandbox functionality have been addressed through AI-powered support and enhanced developer resources.

The platform also introduces IoT APIs that enable payments and communication for connected devices, alongside a redesigned sandbox that allows developers to test complex transaction flows before deployment. Its cloud-native architecture ensures automatic scalability during peak traffic periods, such as Black Friday and national holidays.

Earlier versions of Daraja focused mainly on enabling payment collection and disbursement. With Daraja 3.0, Safaricom shifts toward a developer-first, ecosystem-driven model that opens the M-PESA infrastructure to deeper integration and collaborative innovation.