In 2007, a young man clung to the top of a lorry headed to Nairobi from Mandera. Below him were goats. Around him, dust and heat. But in his mind, only one thing mattered, making it in the city.
That journey, both literal and symbolic, would become the foundation for Riyadh Communications, this year’s winner of the Safaricom Dealer of the Year Award (DOYA). From operating solo, selling SIM cards, handling cash, serving as M-PESA agent and CEO all at once, Mohamud Sheikh has built a company that today supports over 100 people directly and indirectly.
Riyadh’s story is a reflection of the resilience and ambition that defines Safaricom’s vast dealer network. For over two decades, these partners have helped deliver not just products, but access to communication, to opportunity, and to progress.
The 2025 DOYA Awards offered a moment to celebrate that legacy.
Simba Telecommunications, the first runners-up, began in much the same way, on the move. In 2001, their team rode bicycles from town to town, distributing scratch cards and ensuring that customers in far-flung areas stayed connected. As Safaricom evolved, so did the tools: from physical vouchers to electronic top-ups, and eventually to seamless airtime purchases via M-PESA.
For Simba, the recognition came with more than just applause. A KSh 3 million credit injection will help grow operations and reward the team that’s walked the journey from bicycles to broadband.
Sovereign Communications took the third spot, with eyes already set on next year’s top prize. Like the others, their story is one of tenacity, proving that partnerships built on trust and shared vision can go far.
Over the years, Safaricom’s dealers have done more than expand the company’s footprint. They’ve opened up economic pathways in their communities, created jobs, and helped embed mobile technology into the everyday lives of Kenyans. Their growth has mirrored the country’s digital transformation, and in many cases, fueled it.
As Safaricom looks ahead to becoming a purpose-led technology company by 2030, it is clear the journey will continue to be powered by partners like these, people who didn’t wait for opportunity, but built it from the ground up.
Here’s to those who started with nothing but a dream and a scratch card. And to another 25 years of shared prosperity.
