Lilian Limo
Kenyan entrepreneur who revolutionized mobile payments in Africa through innovative fintech solutions
Lilian Limo (born 1975) is a Kenyan tech innovator and entrepreneur best known as co-founder of M-Pesa, the groundbreaking mobile payment system that transformed financial inclusion across Africa. Though often overshadowed by her male colleagues, Limo's technical expertise was instrumental in developing the core infrastructure of this revolutionary platform launched in 2007. Her work enabled millions of unbanked Africans to access financial services through their mobile phones, a solution now used by over 45 million customers in 15 countries.
Before M-Pesa, Limo worked at Safaricom as a software developer, where she recognized the potential of mobile technology to address Kenya's financial access challenges. She led the team that developed the system's SMS-based architecture, creating a secure and scalable platform that bypassed traditional banking infrastructure. This innovation reduced transaction costs by 90% and enabled services like microloans, agricultural payments, and emergency money transfers that became lifelines during crises like the 2007 Kenyan post-election violence.
Limo's contributions extend beyond technology - she pioneered partnerships with NGOs and governments to educate users, ensuring the system reached marginalized communities. Her work earned recognition from the World Economic Forum and MIT, though she remains a relatively unknown figure in global tech circles. Today, she continues advocating for digital financial inclusion through her consultancy firm Tech4Africa, working with startups in blockchain and AI solutions for developing economies.
Key milestones include:
- 2003: Pioneered SMS-based payment prototypes at Safaricom
- 2007: Launched M-Pesa with Vodafone partnership
- 2010: Awarded 'Innovator of the Year' by MIT
- 2015: Co-founded Tech4Africa to scale fintech solutions
- 2020: Developed pandemic-response payment systems for WHO
Her story is chronicled in M-Pesa: The Story of Mobile Money Revolution and featured in BBC's Africa's Digital Revolution documentary series.