Kenya's M-Pesa, Safaricom and Mobile-Money Rules — 2026-10-22
Safaricom has launched "Fuliza Ya Pochi," a new overdraft facility for micro-businesses, while the deadline for its "Pata More" fee reduction campaign approaches on October 31. Meanwhile, M-Pesa’s user base in Ethiopia has hit 5.2 million, earning praise from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and the Vodacom-Safaricom ownership stake remains at 55% pending a Court of Appeal ruling.
Kenya's M-Pesa, Safaricom and Mobile-Money Rules — 2026-10-22
Top developments
Safaricom launches Fuliza Ya Pochi for micro-businesses
Safaricom has introduced "Fuliza Ya Pochi," a new overdraft facility specifically designed for micro-businesses using the Pochi La Biashara wallet. This product allows eligible merchants to access credit to sustain operations when their business wallet funds are insufficient. The launch is part of Safaricom’s strategy to deepen financial services penetration among small-scale traders who form a significant portion of its M-Pesa ecosystem.
"Pata More" fee cuts deadline approaches
Small businesses have until October 31, 2026, to benefit from reduced M-Pesa fees under Safaricom’s "Pata More" campaign. Launched on August 1, the initiative cuts merchant costs for receiving and sending money, including making customer payments of Ksh500 and below free for Lipa na M-Pesa Till merchants. This move is aimed at boosting transaction volumes and supporting small sellers ahead of the holiday season.
Vodacom-Safaricom stake remains at 55% during appeal
The Vodacom stake in Safaricom remains at 55% while Kenya’s Court of Appeal hears the case regarding the disputed acquisition. A High Court ruling had previously voided part of the deal, but the stake has not changed during the ongoing appellate proceedings. This legal uncertainty continues to impact investor sentiment and corporate governance discussions within the region’s largest telecom operator.
M-Pesa Ethiopia users reach 5.2 million
Safaricom’s M-PESA platform has recorded 5.2 million active users in Ethiopia, a milestone highlighted by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The PM praised Safaricom for expanding telecommunications connectivity and digital financial services, citing the platform’s role in improving access to mobile money. Safaricom Ethiopia’s revenue has also surged, with reports indicating a 130.9% increase to ETB 15.9 billion.
Local view
Local media outlets have focused on the practical implications for merchants and consumers. Citizen Digital highlighted the launch of Fuliza Ya Pochi as a critical liquidity tool for micro-enterprises struggling with cash flow. Capital FM reported on Safaricom’s introduction of "M-PESA Jumbe," a new payment notification feature designed to enhance privacy by allowing customers to confirm transactions without exposing their full names or balances. This feature addresses long-standing customer concerns about data privacy in peer-to-peer transfers.
Context & numbers
Kenya’s mobile money base has reached a record high of 95.31 million subscriptions, driven by continued M-PESA expansion. However, survey data indicates a paradox: while access is widespread, the share of financially healthy adults has fallen to 18.3 percent. This suggests that while transaction volume is high, financial resilience among users may be under pressure.
In terms of agent activity, mobile money agent transactions rebounded to 221.07 million transactions worth KSh 728.7 billion in July 2026. This represents the highest monthly value in the Central Bank of Kenya’s published series since at least December 2025, following a slump in February.
On the radar
- October 31 Deadline: The "Pata More" campaign’s reduced fee structure for small businesses expires on October 31, 2026. Merchants should review their fee structures post-deadline.
- Court of Appeal Ruling: The final decision on the Vodacom-Safaricom stake dispute is pending, which could have significant implications for Safaricom’s ownership structure and future strategic direction.
- Ethiopia Expansion: With 15 million subscribers in Ethiopia and 5.2 million M-Pesa users, Safaricom’s focus on this market remains high. Breakeven for the Ethiopian operations is still targeted for March 2027.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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