Kenya Power has alerted customers that a planned M-PESA system upgrade by Safaricom will disrupt electricity token purchases and postpaid bill payments.

According to the utility firm, the upgrade will take place in the early hours of Monday, September 22, 2025 (Sunday night), between 12:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m.

During this period, Kenya Power’s Paybill numbers — 888880 for token purchases and 888888 for postpaid bill payments, will be unavailable.

“Customers will not be able to transact via our M-PESA Paybill numbers during the three-hour window. We encourage customers to purchase their electricity tokens in advance to avoid any inconvenience,” Kenya Power said in a statement.

Alternative payment channels 

The company, however, assured customers that alternative payment channels remain available.

These include Airtel Money and banks such as DTB, NCBA, Family Bank, Co-operative Bank, KCB, I&M Bank, National Bank of Kenya, and Equity Bank, accessible through their USSD codes or mobile banking applications.

Appreciation for continued support 

Kenya Power expressed appreciation for customers’ patience and understanding during the scheduled maintenance, urging them to plan ahead.

For further updates, customers are advised to follow the company’s social media handles on Twitter and Facebook.

Safaricom’s Planned System Upgrade

The temporary disruption to Kenya Power services stems from Safaricom’s planned upgrade of its M-PESA platform.

In a separate notice, the telecommunications company confirmed that all M-PESA services will be unavailable during the same three-hour window.

The maintenance exercise will affect key functions, including money transfers, bill payments, airtime purchases, and loan access.

Safaricom explained that the upgrade is part of its long-term commitment to improving service delivery and strengthening the security and reliability of its mobile money platform.

“For 18 years, M-PESA has continued to transform lives across Kenya, connecting customers to opportunities every day. To support this and meet our promise to offer always-on, safe, secure, and worry-free financial products and services, we will be conducting a scheduled system upgrade,” the company said in a statement.

Heavy reliance on M-PESA 

Launched in 2007, M-PESA has become deeply entrenched in Kenya’s economy and social life.

With over 30 million active users locally, it enables millions of people daily to send and receive money, pay bills, shop, and access credit.

Its convenience and reliability have made it the backbone of Kenya’s financial ecosystem.

Any disruption to the service, even for a few hours, tends to ripple through households and businesses alike.

From small traders to corporate institutions, many rely on the platform to process routine transactions.

The overlap with Kenya Power payments highlights just how central M-PESA has become in day-to-day life.

Safaricom emphasized that the timing of the upgrade was carefully chosen to minimize inconvenience, as transaction volumes are lowest during the early morning hours.

“We apologize for any inconvenience that may be caused and thank you for your continued support,” the company added.

Shared Impact on Customers

The coordinated announcements from Kenya Power and Safaricom underscore the widespread reliance on digital payment infrastructure in Kenya.

As both companies advised, customers are encouraged to plan ahead, either by purchasing electricity tokens in advance or by familiarizing themselves with alternative payment channels.

The brief suspension is expected to serve as a reminder of M-PESA’s central role in Kenya’s economy and of the importance of diversifying digital payment options to reduce over-reliance on a single platform.

Both firms assured customers that normal services will resume immediately after the maintenance exercise.

Kenya Power Managing Director and CEO Joseph Siror. PHOTO/KPLC.