Wanjiku Mathenge

A Kenyan fintech innovator empowering rural women through financial inclusion

Wanjiku Mathenge is a visionary entrepreneur and founder of M-Shwari, a groundbreaking mobile banking platform that has transformed financial access for millions of East Africans. Born in rural Kenya, Mathenge witnessed firsthand how lack of banking services trapped women in poverty. She developed M-Shwari through a partnership with Safaricom and CBA, creating Africa's first mobile savings and loan service accessible via basic phones. This innovation has enabled over 18 million users to access credit, savings, and insurance products without traditional bank infrastructure.

Mathenge's work addresses systemic barriers by offering microloans as small as $1 and requiring no collateral. Her platform's algorithm uses mobile usage data to assess creditworthiness, solving the 'credit invisibility' problem affecting 90% of African women. By 2023, M-Shwari had facilitated over $2 billion in loans to women-led businesses, directly impacting food security and education outcomes in rural communities. Mathenge was named one of Fortune's 40 Under 40 Africa in 2022 for her gender-focused fintech solutions.

Her recent initiative FemTech Alliance expands this model to health financing, allowing users to save for maternal care and school fees through mobile apps. Mathenge's approach combines financial technology with community-driven solutions, proving how digital tools can dismantle centuries-old exclusionary systems. Her TED Talk How mobile money is powering women's financial independence has inspired global policymakers to adopt similar frameworks in Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Indonesia.