Safaricom ranked Africa’s Top Employer for fourth consecutive year

Safaricom has been certified as a Top Employer 2025 in Kenya and Africa for the fourth year running, and as Kenya’s number one employer based on its Human Resource (HR) policies and people practices.
The certification by the Top Employers Institute is based on an extensive review of employer practices across six HR domains consisting of 20 areas including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity & Inclusion, Well-being, and more.
“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 Dr Peter Ndegwa, CEO Safaricom PLC.
The Top Employers Institute, which was established over 30 years ago, is the global authority on recognizing excellence in People Practices. Through the Top Employers Institute Certification Programme, participating companies can be validated, certified, and recognized as employers of choice. The programme has certified and recognised over 2,400 Top Employers in 125 countries/regions across five continents.
Top Employers Institute CEO David Plink says: “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. This year’s Top Employers Certification Programme showcases the resilience of the certified Top Employers 2025, who consistently prioritise the growth and wellbeing of their people, as they enrich the world of work. We are proud to celebrate these people-first leaders and teams as the Top Employers for 2025!”
This recognition 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. The certification and first place ranking have also been awarded to Vodacom Group, Vodacom South Africa, Vodacom Mozambique, and Vodacom Tanzania.
Safaricom first received the Top Employer certification in 2022 and has retained it four years in a row. The company continuously enhances its Employee Value Proposition with elements such as hybrid working, flexi-benefits, and a comprehensive set of talent development initiatives that enable its people to upskill and pursue future-fit digital careers.
“We are incredibly proud to be certified as the Top Employer in Africa for the second year in a row. We believe that the well-being of our employees contributes directly to our ability to fulfil our purpose of connecting for a better future. By continually enhancing our Employee Value Proposition through empathetic and inclusive policies and practices, we are cultivating a workplace culture where people feel valued, empowered, and inspired to reach their full potential,” says Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group.
In 2024, Vodacom strengthened its Employee Value Proposition with employee offerings that endorse its commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace. With an emphasis on Compassion, Acceptance, Respect and Empathy (C.A.R.E.), the company’s enhanced wellness initiatives include support for all stages of life, such as menopause, and a more encompassing family responsibility leave policy.
“Maintaining our position as Africa’s Top Employer once again demonstrates our dedication to enabling our employees to thrive. However, our focus on nurturing talent and career development in the tech industry extends to the millions of young people across the continent who are the future of work. There is an urgent need to prepare the next generation for the rapidly evolving digital economy. To this end, we have launched the Digital Skills Hub, with the goal to equip one million young people in Africa by 2027 by providing access to self-paced, digital skills training for those aged between 18 and 35,” says Matimba Mbungela, Chief Human Resources Officer at Vodacom Group.
Developed in collaboration with other tech organisations, including Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, the Vodacom Digital Skills Hub aims to boost digital literacy across Africa, bridging the digital skills gap across eight African countries including in South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya.
The Vodacom Digital Skills Hub is designed to empower the next generation, to consider a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and entails fun and engaging practical digital skills training for young people on the continent. AWS Educate is one of the first programs to be offered through the Digital Skills Hub and an additional program to Vodacom’s various existing online learning platforms. AWS Educate offers beginners an extensive library of self-paced online training that covers a range of topics from cloud fundamentals to artificial intelligence and machine learning.
“As we embark on a new year, we want to encourage young people, whether they’re students, job seekers or aspiring entrepreneurs, to benefit from the Digital Skills Hub. By supporting digital skills training as a Top Employer, we are empowering the next workforce and ensuring that everyone can connect to a better future,” concludes Joosub.