Safaricom PLC has updated its M-Pesa transaction fees and withdrawal charges, offering clarity on recent changes.

New Withdrawal Fees Explained

The telecom giant adjusted its withdrawal fees for amounts ranging from KSh 50 to KSh 250,000. Safaricom confirmed to Gossipa2z.com that these revisions were implemented in 2023.

• Transfers between KSh 50 and KSh 100 remain free.
• Withdrawals for this range now cost KSh 11.
• For KSh 101 to KSh 2,500, the withdrawal fee rose to KSh 29, up from KSh 28.

Key M-Pesa Updates

1. Increased Limits:

• The M-Pesa daily transaction cap and account balance limit were raised to KSh 500,000.
• The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) also increased the daily transaction limit to KSh 250,000 in 2023.

1. Airtime Purchase Adjustment:

• In September 2024, Safaricom reduced the minimum M-Pesa airtime purchase limit to KSh 1 (previously KSh 5) to enhance revenue collection.

Financial Performance

Safaricom reported a slight dip in voice call revenue for the 2024 financial year, declining by 0.6% to KSh 80.5 billion.

Safaricom continues to adapt its offerings to meet customer needs while streamlining its business operations.

Revised M-Pesa Charges: What You Need to Know

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Thanks to a new partnership between Uber and Safaricom, Kenyans will now enjoy free access to the Uber app.

In an announcement made on Monday, November 4, Safaricom revealed that it has “zero-rated” the Uber app, enabling free usage for Uber drivers, delivery partners, and riders alike.

This initiative, with Uber covering the associated data costs, will make it easier for Kenyans to use Uber and Uber Eats without having to worry about mobile data expenses.

Through this collaboration, Uber Eats consumers and merchants across Kenya will also benefit from free data when using the app.

This move aims to support both drivers and customers by eliminating data costs associated with navigating and ordering through Uber’s platforms.

Imran Manji, Head of Uber in East Africa, highlighted the potential for this partnership to ease access to safe and reliable transportation and food delivery options for Kenyans.

Manji emphasized that drivers in particular would appreciate the data cost savings, as they will no longer need to spend money on mobile data while using the Uber app.

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Uber and Safaricom explained that this initiative is part of a broader goal to reduce the digital divide that persists, particularly in rural and peri-urban regions.

By removing data costs, the partnership addresses one of the barriers to accessing digital services in areas where connectivity and affordability remain challenges.

Safaricom’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ndegwa, stated that the partnership aligns with Safaricom’s mission to offer customers innovative, inclusive solutions.

According to Ndegwa, it is essential for Safaricom to work with partners like Uber to provide free access to essential services, particularly for those who may not always have data bundles or airtime on hand.

For those looking to access this free data feature, Safaricom advises that users ensure any VPN blockers are disabled on their phones.

Additionally, drivers and riders are recommended to toggle airplane mode on and off to secure a smooth, zero-rated data connection when using the Uber app.

This partnership stands to make a significant impact, especially for those in regions where reliable internet access has traditionally been limited or costly.

Safaricom and Uber Partner to Offer Free App Access for Drivers and Riders Across Kenya

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Safaricom has announced a change to the minimum airtime purchase limit via Mpesa.

In a message to its customers on Tuesday, September 17, Safaricom announced that it has lowered the minimum amount required to purchase airtime via Mpesa from Ksh5 to Ksh1. 

“Hata shilingi ni pesa! Sasa unaweza kununua Safaricom airtime ya kuanzia shilingi moja ukitumia M-Pesa. Angalia M-Pesa balance yako na ujaribu kununua leo,” Safaricom stated.

This loosely translates to, “Even a shilling is money! You can now purchase Safaricom airtime starting from just one shilling using M-Pesa. Check your M-Pesa balance and try buying today.”

The change in the airtime purchase limit reflects the company’s move to offer greater flexibility and accessibility to its services for all customers and to increase revenue from low-spenders.

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The change comes barely a month after Safaricom announced it would limit the reverse call service to only two free attempts in a single day. 

The company disclosed on August 19 that it would charge customers Ksh0.50 on the third reverse call request.

However, Safaricom mentioned that customers will not incur any other costs while using the service for the rest of the day.

“You will now be billed Ksh 0.50 on the 3rd reverse call request of the day but will not incur any other costs while using the service for the rest of the day,” Safaricom stated.

Safaricom introduced the reverse call service in 2019 to complement the “please call me” service for customers out of airtime.

Safaricom Lowers Airtime Purchase to Just 1 Shilling via M-Pesa

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Telecom giant Safaricom PLC has dismissed rumors circulating on social media that it has stopped allowing Starlink Internet payments through Mpesa.

This clarification comes after some users on X alleged that Safaricom had discontinued Starlink internet payments via the Mpesa service.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Safaricom affirmed that the option remains available and encouraged customers experiencing difficulties to contact the company.

“This information is incorrect; the option is still available. Please get in touch with us if you encounter any issues,” Safaricom emphasized.

Starlink, a satellite-based internet service, was developed by SpaceX, a private aerospace and space transportation company founded by Elon Musk, the owner of X.

Unlike Safaricom’s internet, which depends on undersea cables prone to damage and outages, Starlink utilizes satellites for its connectivity.

Safaricom has recently faced scrutiny after requesting the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to review its decision to grant a license to Starlink internet providers.

The telecom firm urged the regulator to evaluate the risks associated with allowing satellite internet providers to operate independently without partnerships with local companies.

“Satellite service providers should only be permitted to operate under the license rights of a local licensee rather than being granted a license independently,” a section of Safaricom’s memo stated.

In response, the CA noted that Safaricom is entitled to voice its regulatory concerns about independent satellite providers like Starlink.

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“Service providers or licensees have the right to bring any market issues to the attention of the ICT regulator,” CA responded.

The regulator also emphasized that it conducts independent reviews of such issues within its regulatory framework and responds accordingly.

“The Authority conducts independent examinations of these matters within its regulatory framework and addresses them appropriately. This is a standard procedure as the Authority aims to foster the growth of the dynamic and rapidly evolving ICT sector,” the statement added.

Some leaders, including Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, have defended Starlink, praising its impressive internet speeds compared to Safaricom’s slower and less reliable service.

“The government should disregard Safaricom’s concerns. Murang’a has automated its healthcare services, and Safaricom’s internet speed frequently drops. Sometimes it’s as low as 4.7Mbps, while Starlink’s new speeds reach 100 Mbps. This difference is critical in saving lives, and Starlink’s service isn’t affected by the weather,” Kang’ata commented.

Safaricom Refutes Claims of Starlink Mpesa Payment Ban Amid Regulatory Scrutiny

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Kenya’s leading telecommunications provider, Safaricom, raised concerns regarding the entrance of satellite internet provider Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, into the Kenyan market.

In a formal letter addressed to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), Safaricom urged the regulator to consider requiring satellite providers to partner with local mobile network operators as they begin granting independent licenses to satellite internet providers.

Starlink, which launched in Kenya in July 2023, has expanded across Africa, offering satellite-based internet services that bypass traditional ground infrastructure.

While the company has faced regulatory hurdles in some countries, it has introduced competitive pricing and hardware rental plans in Kenya, making its services more accessible.

Why Safaricom wants Starlink regulated

Safaricom’s concerns revolve around the potential for satellite coverage to span multiple territorial borders and provide services illegally within Kenya’s borders, leading to what the company called “harmful interference.”

The telecom giant, partly owned by the Kenyan government, Vodafone, and Vodacom, expressed that satellite providers should operate as infrastructure providers to ensure local investment, employment, and compliance with Kenyan laws.

How Kenyans reacted to Safaricom

However, Safaricom’s position has ignited an online debate, especially on X (formerly Twitter), with many Kenyans voicing their opinions on the matter.

@CPA_ClementE said:

“Safaricom’s unease is understandable—Starlink is poised to disrupt the market in a big way, and there will likely be casualties.”

@HonKangata said:

“Govt. Should ignore Safaricom. Muranga automated its healthcare. Safaricom’s internet speed drops frequently. The speed is so low. At times 4.7Mbps. New Starlink internet speeds hit 100 Mbps. This saves lives. And it’s not affected by weather.”

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@zero_mind8 said:

“I never even in my weirdest dreams thought that I would ever see something shake Safaricom.”

@DonaldBKipkorir said:

“Ideas whose time has come & disruptive technology can’t be stopped. Safaricom came up with mPesa & disrupted the banking sector in Kenya. Starlink has come to disrupt how the entire world communicates without human disruption.”

@reubenmuhindi said:

“A friend in Cameroon told me he recently started using Starlink. I asked how comes yet I know Cameroon banned it early this year due to no license & citing a national security threat. Turns out he bought it in Nigeria & uses it perfectly in Cameroon. Safaricom, you’re on your own.”

@MalloFredrick said:

“Yoh, the amount of free promotion Kenyans are giving Starlink is crazy. I can’t believe you guys hated Safaricom that deep. What happened to the ‘Buy Kenya, Build Kenya’ initiative? Elon Musk is a billionaire y’all!.”

As Starlink continues to gain traction in Kenya, the debate between embracing new technological advancements and supporting local industry is heating up.

Safaricom’s call for regulatory intervention by CAK may be only the beginning of an ongoing battle over the future of internet services in the country.

Kenyans React After Safaricom Writes to Govt to Regulate Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet: “Safaricom, you’re on your own”

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Safaricom PLC has announced significant changes to its widely-used reverse call service, a feature that has become indispensable to many of its subscribers since its introduction in 2019.

The telecommunications giant has confirmed that while the reverse call service will remain available, it will now be limited to two free calls per day.

Introduction of charges after two free calls

Responding to many of its concerned users on X, Safaricom clarified that customers who make more than two reverse calls in a single day will be charged from the third call onward.

“The reverse call service is still available. Please note that the initiator of the reverse call will only be billed on the third reverse call request of the day when the sponsor accepts the request,” the company explained.

This change means that while the first two reverse calls remain free of charge, the third and subsequent calls will incur normal call rates, provided the receiver accepts the call.

“After the third request, the initiator will not incur any additional costs while using the service for the rest of the day,” added the company.

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How the reverse call service works

The reverse call service allows Safaricom customers to make calls even without airtime, with the cost of the call being borne by the receiver.

All Safaricom subscribers are eligible to use this service. To initiate a reverse call, customers need to dial # followed by the number they wish to call (e.g., #07123456789).

When the receiver answers the call, an announcement prompts them to either accept or decline the call.

They can press 1 to accept or 2 to decline. If they accept, the call will be charged at the normal rate.

If they don’t accept or decline, the call is disconnected ensuring that neither party is charged in such cases.

Growth and impact of the reverse call service

Since its inception, the reverse call service has gained significant traction among Safaricom users.

According to a 2023 report by the service provider, the number of customers engaging daily with the reverse call service has seen substantial growth.

The volume of reverse calls nearly doubled from 73 million to 130 million between April 2021 and October 2023.

Safaricom Updates Reverse Call Service: Two Free Calls Per Day, Charges Apply Thereafter

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A host of M-Pesa products will not be operating from the late evening of Sunday, August 11, to Monday dawn, August 12.

As system maintenance will be underway.

Safaricom notified its customers via a statement on Saturday, August 10.

The telco giant attributed the maintenance to the need for innovation and enhancement of its services to connect customers with endless possibilities.

“We will be conducting scheduled system maintenance on the night of Sunday, 11th August 2024, from 11 pm to 4 am on Monday, 12th August,” read the company’s statement.

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During the maintenance, access to Lipa na M-PESA Paybill and Buy Goods services, International money transfers (Western Union), M-PESA Global, as well as M-PESA and my Safaricom Apps will be interrupted.

However, other network services, including calls, data, SMS, and all other M-PESA services, will be available.

“The timing of this maintenance has been planned to result in the least inconvenience to our customers. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding as we strive to provide you with best-in-class services,” the company added.

Safaricom boasts over 30 million users in Kenya and 50 million across Africa.

Innovations have led to the activation of such customer-friendly products as M-Shwari, KCB M-Pesa, and Fuliza making the money mobile service to attract more users.

Safaricom Announces M-Pesa Service Outage for System Maintenance on August 11-12

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Safaricom, the prominent telecommunications firm, has asserted that the responsibility for the delay in acquiring tokens lies with Kenya Power.

The telecommunications company, in a clarification regarding the X platform, absolved itself of responsibility by stating that the task of generating tokens fell under the purview of the utility firm, not them.

“Kindly note that, token is generated by KPLC. They are having delays with token production, kindly allow them time to resolve the issue and send the token,” Safaricom said.

Safaricom was responding to a concern from a Kenyan.

The explanation swiftly followed a surge of dissatisfaction among some Kenyan individuals who claimed they had not yet received their token, even though they had made a purchase almost 24 hours earlier.

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Kenya Power initially acknowledged a malfunction in token purchases at 4:20 pm on Saturday.

A notice from Kenya Power announcing the resumption of normalcy in the purchase of tokens at 7:50 pm Saturday was deleted Sunday morning.

The deletion came after frustrated Kenyans took to the comment section of the notice post to deny the resumption of normal services as they had not received their tokens.

The utility firm trended the better part of Sunday as concerned Kenyans queried when their purchased tokens would be generated.

A token purchase made by this writer around 10 pm Saturday was yet to be generated by the time of publishing this story.

Kenyans seeking the status of their token purchase can reach out to KPLC via C via 0703070707 or 0732170170 (chargeable at normal call rates) for assistance.

Safaricom Dispels Token Purchase Delays Blame: It’s KPLC, Not Us.

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Safaricom, the prominent telecommunications company, has announced a significant change to its M-Pesa service, stating that customers will no longer have the capability to send money to unregistered users. 

This alteration, outlined in a statement released on a Saturday, is set to take effect from the upcoming Monday, February 5, 2024. 

Safaricom clarified that while this restriction applies to unregistered users, individuals who have completed the registration process will continue to have access to the full range of services, including sending and receiving funds from various mobile money providers.

The telecommunications giant emphasized the importance of adherence to the new directive, cautioning users about the imminent implementation.

 According to the statement, registered mobile money customers will maintain their ability to conduct financial transactions seamlessly with other mobile money platforms such as Airtel and T-Kash.

Safaricom’s guidance extended to unregistered mobile money service customers, urging them to promptly complete the registration process. 

The company conveyed a clear message, specifying the cutoff date of February 5th, 2024, for the discontinuation of sending money from M-Pesa to unregistered mobile money customers.

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 The statement underscored that registration for mobile money services could be accomplished by visiting a Safaricom Shop or M-PESA Agent, with the provision of a valid Identity Document.

This strategic shift by Safaricom not only signals a tightening of security measures but also underscores the importance of user registration in promoting secure and accountable financial transactions within the M-Pesa ecosystem. 

Customers are encouraged to proactively adhere to these changes, aligning with Safaricom’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and reliability of its mobile money services.

“Effective February 5th, 2024, you will no longer be able to send money from M-PESA to unregistered mobile money customers. As a registered mobile money customer, you will be able to send and receive money across different mobile money providers such as Airtel and T-Kash,” read the statement.

“We encourage customers who are not registered for mobile money services to register by visiting a Safaricom Shop or M-PESA Agent with their Identity Document.” 

Safaricom Stops M-Pesa Transfers To Unregistered Users

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Safaricom has completed the acquisition of M-Pesa Holding Company Limited from the London-based Vodafone Group. M-Pesa contains billions in customer funds that support Safaricom’s mobile money platform.

Safaricom paid approximately Ksh149 (USD 1) to Vodafone for regulatory sanction of the transactions.

“The Board of Directors of Safaricom PLC (Safaricom) is pleased to notify the public of the completion of the acquisition by Safaricom of the entire issued share capital of M-pesa Holding Co. Limited from Vodafone International Holding BV,” the telco said in a notice on Thursday.

This unit maintains customer funds for Kenyan customers in trust.

“On 17th April 2023, Safaricom entered into a share purchase agreement with Vodafone International Holdings B.V. (Vodafone BV) for the transfer of one hundred percent (100%) shareholding in M-PESA Holding Co. Limited (M-PESA Holding) from Vodafone BV to Safaricom,” Safaricom announced.

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“M-Pesa Holding is the corporate trustee responsible for holding M-Pesa customer funds under the M-Pesa trust arrangement as required by the National Payment System Regulations, 2014.”

The transaction follows the Ksh2.1 billion acquisition of the M-Pesa brand from Vodafone by Safaricom and Vodacom of South Africa in 2020.

As a result, the corporation no longer had to pay licensing fees to the London-based company.

Vodafone announced in April that M-Pesa Holding had Ksh196 billion in short-term investments at the end of March.

In addition, it held approximately Ksh193 billion in client funds.

According to Vodafone, M-Pesa Holding profits are donated to charity.

Safaricom Seals M-Pesa Cash Unit Acquisition for Ksh149

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