For the fifth year in a row, M-Pesa retained the top spot in the 2022 list of leading brands in Kenya, with Safaricom, the firm that birthed M-Pesa coming second.

M-Pesa beat banks, manufacturers and other money transfer platforms alongside loan apps to top the leading brand list of 20.

The survey conducted by Superbrands East Africa in the first half of the year ranked  M-Pesa higher than like Safaricom, Jik and the Kenya Red Cross to bag the coveted brand tag.

Ranking of M-Pesa highlights the prominence firms that leverage technology had on individuals and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Superbrand’s survey said Jik, a leading household cleaning agent in Kenya continued to be a leader coming third after Safaricom.

Kenpoly, Dettol, Weetabix, Bamburi Cement, cosmetics retailer Darling and retail store Naivas closed the list of the top ten brands.

Insights in the Superbrand report were drawn from a comprehensive survey administered to urban Kenyan consumers in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

This even as another study by Brand valuation consultancy firm Brand Finance considered Safaricom as Kenya’s leading brand.

Brand Finance said Kenyan brands are disrupting the brick-and-mortar business model and equipping businesses with technological means to actively connect with end users. That these brands have achieved remarkable brand value growth of 72 per cent year-on-year, the global firm notes.

“As the economy reopens, the telecommunications, banking and insurance brands among others in the Kenya 20 ranking are benefiting from higher private consumption and demand among Kenyans,” Brand Finance said in a statement.

In the latest ranking of the Top Most loved Brands by Women in Kenya, Safaricom and M-Pesa emerged as the top two brands loved the most by women.

The survey carried out by market research firm IPSOS and Branding advisory consultancy BSD Group early this said Airtel was the third brand most loved by women, closely followed by Equity Bank in fourth position.