Kenya · Mobile Money · 20 October 2026

Safaricom has made M-Pesa payments of up to KSh500 (about US$3.85) to business tills free since 7 August 2026, and no end date has been reported for that change. A separate offer for its Pochi la Biashara wallet, free up to KSh200 (about US$1.54), runs to 31 October.

M-Pesa is the mobile phone payment service that millions of Kenyans use for everything from market stalls to taxis. For visitors and US companies that sell into Kenya, the offer shows how cheap digital payments have become a competitive weapon.

What Changed for Traders

Safaricom raised the free limit for Lipa na M-Pesa, its till system for shops, from KSh200 to KSh500 from 7 August, according to Prime Business Africa. Payments above KSh500 still carry a 0.55% charge, which tech-ish reports is capped at KSh200 (about US$1.54) per transaction.

For Pochi la Biashara, a wallet for small sellers, payments of up to KSh200 are free, up from KSh100. For larger payments the charge is capped at KSh50 (about US$0.39), down from KSh108 (about US$0.83) in the top band, TechMoran reports.

Charges for moving money out of a business till were cut by up to half, Prime Business Africa reports. Examples cited by TechMoran include a transfer of KSh45,000 to KSh250,000 costing KSh54 (about US$0.42), down from KSh108.

A street stall in Nairobi, the kind of small trader Safaricom’s campaign targets. File photo. (Photo: Ninara, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Why Safaricom Did It

Safaricom launched Pata More on 1 August and says it wants to make digital payments affordable for small traders. A company statement quoted by Prime Business Africa reads: “When it’s cheaper to pay digitally than with cash, the whole economy wins.”

At a launch in Nakuru, Fawzia Ali, Safaricom’s chief consumer business officer, cited the pressure on households after a fuel price rise, The Standard reported. The campaign also offers a daily data bundle of 250 megabytes for KSh20 (about US$0.15).

Which Cuts End and Which Stay

TechMoran and business.co.ke report that the Pochi offer runs from 1 August to 31 October. Prime Business Africa calls it a 90-day promotion, and the till and payout changes carry no end date in the reports we reviewed.

We found no Safaricom statement on what happens to the Pochi offer after 31 October. Anyone who sells through M-Pesa should check the current rates with the company before 1 November.

What It Means for You

Travellers who buy from stalls, kiosks and taxis in Kenya often pay with M-Pesa, so lower charges help the small sellers they deal with. Companies that use M-Pesa to collect payments from Kenyan customers should watch what happens to the Pochi rates after 31 October.

For investors, the cuts show how Safaricom trades fee income for loyalty among small merchants. The company has not said what the campaign costs it.

What Is Not Known

It is not known whether Safaricom will extend the Pochi offer or let the old charges return on 1 November. The company has not said how much revenue it gives up.

The reports we reviewed do not include a Safaricom primary statement, so traders should confirm rates with the company. Our report on the Safaricom sale appeal covers the company’s ownership dispute, and our Kenya section has more.

Sources

TechMoran, 19 October 2026 · Prime Business Africa, 3 August 2026 · tech-ish, M-Pesa tariff cuts · The Standard, 11 August 2026

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief

Frequently Asked Questions

Which M-Pesa payments are free under Pata More?

Payments of KSh500 (about US$3.85) or less to a Lipa na M-Pesa till are free. Pochi la Biashara payments of up to KSh200 (about US$1.54) are also free.

What do larger till payments cost?

Payments above KSh500 still carry a charge of 0.55%, according to TechMoran, which tech-ish says is capped at KSh200 per transaction. Transfers out of a business till were cut by up to half.

When do the M-Pesa fee cuts end?

The Pochi offer is reported to run from 1 August to 31 October 2026. The till change from 7 August has no reported end date.

Who is eligible?

The cuts target small businesses such as market vendors, bodaboda riders and matatu operators. Prime Business Africa puts the number of small businesses affected at more than 7 million.

Will Safaricom extend the Pochi offer?

No extension has been announced. We found no Safaricom statement on what happens after 31 October.