Relief for M-PESA Users as Safaricom Slashes Pochi and Buy Goods Charges
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Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telecommunications company, has slashed M-PESA charges for Pochi la Biashara, Lipa na M-PESA Buy Goods, and Business Till transfers.
The revised tariffs, announced on Friday, July 31, 2026, are expected to lower the cost of accepting and managing digital payments while supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In a statement, Safaricom said the changes align with the Central Bank of Kenya’s pricing principles of customer-centricity, transparency, fairness, competition, and affordability.
“These changes have been introduced to make digital payments more affordable while aligning with the Central Bank of Kenya’s pricing principles on customer-centricity, transparency, fairness, competition and affordability,” the statement said.
Pochi la Biashara customers to enjoy free payments up to Ksh 200
Safaricom said Pochi la Biashara customers will enjoy lower transaction charges for 90 days, from August 1 to October 31, 2026.
Also Read: Safaricom Explains How to Get Rid of Flash Messages After Making a Call
Under the revised tariff, customers paying merchants through Pochi la Biashara will not pay any transaction charges for payments of up to Ksh 200.
Transactions above Ksh 200 will attract the following charges:
| Transaction Amount (Ksh) | Customer Charge (Ksh) |
| 1 – 200 | 0 |
| 201 – 500 | 7 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 13 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 23 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 33 |
| 2,501 – 250,000 | 50 |
The company said the temporary tariff review is aimed at encouraging more customers and businesses to adopt digital payments.
Buy Goods free collection limit increased to Ksh 500
Safaricom has also revised tariffs for Lipa na M-PESA Buy Goods, with the new rates taking effect on August 7, 2026.
The company has increased the free collection threshold from Ksh 200 to Ksh 500, meaning businesses will not pay collection fees on payments of up to Ksh 500.
Collections above Ksh 500 will continue attracting a 0.55% fee, capped at Ksh 200.
| Collection Amount (KSh) | Old Tariff | New Tariff |
| 0 – 200 | Free | Free |
| 201 – 500 | 0.55% | Free |
| 501 – 36,363 | 0.55% | 0.55% |
| Above 36,363 | Ksh 200 | Ksh 200 |
The increase in the free collection threshold means merchants can now receive more low-value customer payments without incurring collection costs.
Business Till transfer charges reduced by up to 50%
Safaricom further announced that businesses using M-PESA Business Till will benefit from up to 50% lower charges when transferring funds from their tills to an M-PESA account or a PayBill account.
Also Read: Safaricom Unveils New Updates to My OneApp
The revised Pay to Mobile and Pay to PayBill transfer tariffs will also take effect on August 7, 2026.
Pay to Mobile transfer charges
| Transaction Amount (KSh) | Old Charge | New Charge |
| 0 – 50 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 – 100 | 0 | 0 |
| 101 – 500 | 7 | 4 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 13 | 7 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 23 | 12 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 33 | 17 |
| 2,501 – 3,500 | 53 | 27 |
| 3,501 – 5,000 | 57 | 29 |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 78 | 39 |
| 7,501 – 10,000 | 90 | 45 |
| 10,001 – 15,000 | 100 | 50 |
| 15,001 – 20,000 | 105 | 53 |
| 20,001 – 30,000 | 108 | 54 |
| 30,001 – 250,000 | 108 | 54 |
Pay to PayBill transfer charges
| Transaction Amount (KSh) | Old Charge | New Charge |
| 0 – 50 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 – 100 | 0 | 0 |
| 101 – 500 | 5 | 3 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 10 | 5 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 15 | 8 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 20 | 10 |
| 2,501 – 3,500 | 25 | 13 |
| 3,501 – 5,000 | 34 | 17 |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 42 | 21 |
| 7,501 – 10,000 | 48 | 24 |
| 10,001 – 15,000 | 57 | 29 |
| 15,001 – 20,000 | 62 | 31 |
| 20,001 – 25,000 | 67 | 34 |
| 25,001 – 30,000 | 72 | 36 |
| 30,001 – 35,000 | 83 | 42 |
| 35,001 – 40,000 | 99 | 50 |
| 40,001 – 45,000 | 103 | 52 |
| 45,001 – 250,000 | 108 | 54 |
The new Pochi la Biashara tariffs took effect on August 1, 2026, while the revised Lipa na M-PESA Buy Goods and Business Till transfer charges will come into effect on August 7, 2026.
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An M-pesa agent serves a customer along Mama Ngina Street, Nairobi on August 15, 2023. PHOTO/NMG