The company launched the short nationwide e-waste collection drive this week with a highly relatable message: “Kila nyumba ina ile drawer ya chargers hazina kazi.” It is inviting households, businesses, and institutions to surrender unused mobile phones, broken chargers, earphones, batteries, and other small electronic accessories so they can be given a second life through responsible recycling instead of ending up in landfills or ordinary rubbish.
Why Safaricom is doing this
The drive is purely environmental. Electronic waste contains materials that can be recovered and reused, but it also carries toxic elements that pollute soil, water, and air when dumped carelessly. Safaricom says collecting these items helps recover valuable materials, reduce environmental pollution, and keep electronic waste out of landfills.
This is not a one-off publicity stunt. It forms part of Safaricom’s long-running zero-waste-to-landfill commitment that began around 2012. Over the years the company has partnered with licensed recyclers, including the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Centre and Warmtech, to dismantle and process collected devices properly. The current campaign is simply intensifying public participation by making drop-off points easily accessible at its shops across the country.
Importantly, Safaricom will not pay for the items. This is not a trade-in or buy-back programme. No cash, airtime, or credit will be given regardless of the condition or age of the gadgets.
How it works
Anyone can take part. There is no limit on the number of items an individual or organisation can bring. Simply gather the unused electronics and hand them over at any Safaricom retail shop before the November 13 deadline.
Before dropping off a phone, Safaricom advises users to:
- Back up photos, contacts, and important data
- Remove SIM and memory cards
- Sign out of personal accounts
- Perform a factory reset where possible
Damaged devices that cannot be switched on should still be handed over carefully; staff can guide on data protection if needed. Do not attempt to dismantle devices or remove batteries yourself.
The bigger picture
Kenya, like many countries, generates significant volumes of e-waste every year as phones and gadgets are replaced. By making it easy for people to dispose of them responsibly through familiar shops, Safaricom aims to cut the volume that ends up in dumpsites and recover materials that would otherwise be lost.
The message is simple: those old phones and tangled chargers gathering dust still have value, just not the kind that sits in a drawer. Handing them over this week helps keep the environment cleaner while supporting a circular approach to technology waste.
Kenyans have until November 13 to act. Any Safaricom retail shop will accept the items.