Safaricom Director Honored with Global Social Innovation Award

Ms. Karen Basiye, Safaricom’s Director of Sustainable Business, Social Impact, and Foundations, has been named a Schwab Foundation Corporate Social Innovator of the Year 2026, a recognition highlighting her transformative work in integrating social and environmental impact into the company’s operations.

Safaricom hailed the achievement, saying:

“We are incredibly proud to announce that our very own Karen Basiye, Director of Sustainable Business, Social Impact, and Foundations, has been named a Schwab Foundation Corporate Social Innovator of the Year 2026! This recognition by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, isn’t just an award. It is a testament to the ‘Spirit of Safaricom’ – a belief that business thrives when society thrives. Karen has been at the forefront of integrating Social and Environmental Impact into our DNA. From championing Climate Action to driving Digital Inclusion, her work ensures that our technology doesn’t just connect people but #TransformsLives. She embodies what it means to use ESG and the SDGs not as a checklist, but as an enabler for a net-positive future.

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As we accelerate our mission to deliver scalable tech solutions, leaders like Karen remind us that our ‘Social Licence to Operate’ is earned every day by doing the right thing. Please join us in celebrating Karen for placing Safaricom—and Africa—on the global map for responsible business.”

The award, presented by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in partnership with the World Economic Forum, recognizes business leaders who drive systemic change globally.

This year, the Schwab Foundation celebrated 21 social entrepreneurs and innovators from 17 organizations across 190 countries, whose work spans healthcare, education, climate action, and democratic participation.

Collectively, the awardees have improved over 950 million lives worldwide, mobilizing nearly $1 billion in impact over the past year.

Hilde Schwab, Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Schwab Foundation, said, “From strengthening emergency medical services in Ethiopia, to creating circular textile economies in Lebanon and tackling STEM teacher shortages in North America, these leaders were selected for their transformative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing social challenges.”

At Safaricom, Karen Basiye has championed initiatives ranging from climate action to digital inclusion, ensuring that technology not only connects people but transforms lives.

The Schwab Foundation 2026 Impact Report highlights how social innovators are responding to global uncertainty with resilience, collaboration, and new models for impact, demonstrating that purpose-driven innovation can truly transform societies and foster a more inclusive and sustainable future.