When a subscriber of M‑PESA (operated by Safaricom) passes away without having left a clear PIN or instruction for their mobile-money account, the funds do not automatically transfer to family members or friends.

Instead, the account is first frozen once Safaricom is notified of the death.

If next of kin or an estate representative wishes to access the funds, a formal legal claim must be made.

Documentation is required, including death certificate, identification of claimant, often a court-issued grant of letters of administration or probate if the deceased left an estate.

Crucially, a PIN or instruction left by the deceased does not bypass these processes.

The lack of a PIN does not mean the money is lost forever, but it does mean the standard succession and claims infrastructure still applies.

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Account freezing and claim process

Once Safaricom receives notification of the subscriber’s death, the M-PESA account is frozen to protect the estate and prevent further transactions.

Claimants must present; a death certificate, their own ID, a letter from provincial administration, an affidavit, and for larger balances court-issued grant of probate or letters of administration.

After documentation is approved, the funds are transferred into a registered M-PESA account of the beneficiary.

Safaricom does not pay out in cash or other forms.

If no claim is made within two years the funds may be transferred to the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA) under Kenyan law.

Why lack of PIN doesn’t override legal process

Even if a deceased person did not leave their PIN number, the legal framework treats the account balance as part of their estate.

According to the Law of Succession Act (Cap 160), assets of a deceased person without a will (or even with a will) must undergo proper succession.

Also, Safaricom’s terms and conditions define a “Successor”, a person legally authorised to access funds in the event of death, but this legal authorisation must still be verified.

Therefore, not having a PIN does not mean the funds are lost or automatically go to named next of kin.

The process remains the same, notification, documentation, approval, then transfer.

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Implications for families and estates

For families of the deceased, this means immediate action is required to avoid dormant balances.

Over KSh 3.2 billion was reportedly lying idle in M-PESA accounts linked to deceased or inactive SIM cards as of November 2024.

If family members assume that the absence of a PIN equals automatic access they risk delays or preclusion.

The key takeaway, inform Safaricom, gather the required documents, and apply for claim promptly.

For the deceased subscriber, it underlines the importance of including mobile-money holdings in estate planning, even if one does not leave a PIN, having a will or clear instructions for digital assets can ease the process.

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The Image Shows a Person Using the M-Pesa Mobile Money Transfer Service on a Smartphone. PHOTO/ COURTESY