Safaricom Director for Strategy Joseph Ogutu cuts a cake at the newly opened shop along Ronald Ngala street in Nairobi today. Looking on are the shop customer experience executives. [Photo|Ogilvy]

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Safaricom has today announced the launch of five new Safaricom Shops that aim to cater for rising demand across the country.In Nairobi, a new Ronald Ngala Shop will serve customers in the Central Business District while the Greenspan Mall Shop will serve customers in Donholm, Kayole and the Greater Eastlands region. A new Nyahururu shop will cater to customers in Nyandarua County, Laikipia West and Samburu Central Sub Counties.Safaricom today also launches a remodelled Village Market Safaricom Shop, which has been refitted to provide an immersive customer experience around connected and smart home solutions. The company has also refurbished the Kitui shop to meet an increasing appetite for smartphones and related services in Kitui County. “Kenyans are embracing an increasingly digital enabled lifestyle driven by growing smartphone uptake, advanced 3G and 4G networks, and smart, connected homes. Our investment in these new Safaricom Shops will go a long way in meeting these emerging customer needs within a fast-evolving technology landscape,” said Joseph Ogutu, Director – Strategy, Safaricom.The new outlets will grow Safaricom Shop’s footprint to 48 across the country, with more than 10,000 customers visiting a Safaricom outlet every day. The growing customer footfall is largely driven by demand for 3G and 4G smartphones, and for M-PESA services. Safaricom is also remodelling some of its shops to cater for emerging services such as connected businesses, smart homes, and e-commerce.Safaricom has also launched eight care desks that will supplement the Nyahururu and Greenspan Mall shops. The care desks will be located at Safaricom Dealers in Nyahururu, Kinamba, Rumuruti, and Ol-Kalau in Nyandarua and Laikipia Counties, and Donholm, Kayole and Pipeline in Nairobi County. The care desks are staffed by Safaricom employees and allow customers to access personalized services including M-PESA statements, without having to visit the shops.