Nairobi, Kenya — A single KES 20 data bundle purchase has rewritten the story of 20-year-old Yvonne Wanjiku Kang’ara from Ngeu, Kiambu County, after she was announced as the first millionaire in Safaricom’s Shangwe @25 consumer promotion.
Yvonne, the latest symbol of youthful hope and possibility, was unveiled as the inaugural winner of KES 1 million in the campaign celebrating Safaricom’s 25 years of innovation, connectivity, and customer impact. The life-changing call came unexpectedly — and almost unbelievably — for the soft-spoken young woman whose modest transaction earned her an entry into the nationwide draw.
“I am still in shock that the KES 20 I used to buy a data bundle has turned me into a millionaire courtesy of Safaricom,” Yvonne said, recalling the unforgettable moment. “When I received the call, I thought it was a fraud until my mom and I confirmed the number as the official Safaricom line (0722000000). This is truly life-changing for me and my family.”
Yvonne plans to use part of her winnings to return to school, support her mother in starting a business, and build a home for her grandmother in Londiani, where she grew up — a gesture that underscores both her gratitude and her rooted sense of responsibility.
Her win goes beyond personal transformation. As part of the promotion, she also received an additional KES 250,000 to support a community project. Yvonne intends to donate the funds to a local children’s home to assist with food, bedding, and other essential supplies, extending her newfound fortune to those most in need.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa described Yvonne’s victory as a reflection of the company’s mission since inception.
“Today, we celebrate our first millionaire under the newly launched Shangwe @25 campaign. It’s heartwarming to see how a simple KES 20 data bundle can transform a life, turning a young Kenyan like Yvonne into a millionaire. At Safaricom, this is what we stand for — creating opportunities and transforming lives,” Ndegwa said.
The Shangwe @25 promotion has attracted widespread excitement across the country, with more than 5 million customers expected to win prizes worth over KES 250 million. Since its launch, daily and weekly winners have been rewarded with cash prizes, data bundles, smartphones, and business empowerment tools.
Highlights of the campaign include:
25 customers will each win KES 1 million plus KES 250,000 for a community project.
25 small and micro businesses will receive Bajaj tricycles to enhance mobility and trade.
15 large and medium enterprises will receive KES 500,000 each for community initiatives.
25 more small and micro businesses will win KES 250,000 worth of stock.
Daily winners continue to receive airtime, data, devices, and instant M-PESA cash rewards.
Customers can participate through everyday transactions — sending money on M-PESA, paying bills, purchasing data or voice bundles, redeeming Bonga Points, or subscribing to Home Fibre. Merchants and M-PESA agents also stand a chance to win through Buy Goods, Pochi La Biashara, and transactions of KES 1,000 or more.
As Safaricom continues marking 25 years of service under its “Shangwe @25” celebrations, Yvonne’s story stands as a powerful testament to how opportunity can appear in the simplest of moments — and how one KES 20 purchase can open the door to a brighter future.
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