Safaricom to Launch New M-PESA Transaction Feature

Safaricom has announced plans to introduce a new privacy feature on M-PESA that will limit the amount of personal information shared during Send Money transactions.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa said the feature will be rolled out by the end of March as the mobile money platform marks its 19th anniversary.

The update comes after customers raised privacy concerns when sending money through the platform.

“As M-PESA turns 19 this month, we are reminded that the trust of our over 40 million M-PESA customers who rely on this platform every day is our greatest responsibility,” Ndegwa said.

“That trust is built not only on the reliability of M-PESA, but also on how well we protect the personal information of those who use it,” he added.

Details of the New M-PESA Privacy Feature

Under the new update, recipients of money transfers will only see limited details of the sender in order to protect user privacy.

If a recipient needs the sender’s full details, they will be able to request the information within 24 hours of the transaction. The sender will then receive a prompt asking whether they approve sharing their full details.

If the sender approves, the recipient will receive the sender’s full name and mobile number via SMS. If the request is declined or the sender does not respond within two hours, the information will not be shared.

Safaricom said the feature will first be rolled out to Send Money transactions before being extended to other parts of the M-PESA ecosystem in later phases.

The company said the move is part of efforts to strengthen privacy protections and maintain trust among millions of users who rely on the platform for daily financial transactions.

Also Read: Safaricom’s Ziidi Fund Wins Global Fintech Award at Mobile World Congress 2026

About the Mobile Money Service Platform

M-PESA is a mobile money service launched by Safaricom that allows users to send, receive, store, and manage money using their mobile phones.

The platform enables customers to conduct financial transactions without needing a traditional bank account.

M-PESA, Safaricom’s mobile money platform, offers a wide range of financial services.

Also Read: Safaricom Expands Its Popular Data Bundle

Users can send and receive money instantly, deposit and withdraw cash through agents across Kenya, and pay bills such as electricity, water, internet, and school fees via the PayBill service.

They can also pay merchants directly using a till number or buy airtime for themselves or others.

Beyond basic transactions, M-PESA provides access to savings and loan services like M-Shwari and Fuliza, international money transfers, and digital investment products such as the Ziidi Money Market Fund, giving users more ways to manage and grow their finances.

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