Safaricom’s M-PESA Pay Bill Numbers to accept Airtel Money, T-Kash payments
Kenya’s telco firms Telkom, Safaricom, and Airtel, have unveiled a feature where Kenyans can now make direct mobile money payments to an M-PESA Pay Bill Number from any network.
The deal follows the telcos’ move in April this year, which saw Kenyans allowed to make mobile money payments to M-PESA Buy Goods and Services Tills from any network.
The objective of the interoperability of Kenya’s mobile money service platforms is meant to allow mobile wallet users to make direct payments to any M-PESA merchant Pay Bill Number and Merchant Tills, from any network, thereby accelerating the adoption of cashless payments.
The next phase of merchant interoperability will see Kenyans make mobile money payments from M-PESA to the Till and Pay Bill Numbers of the other networks: Airtel Money and Telkom Kenya’s T-kash.
This proposition is also in line with the principles of the National Payments Strategy, 2022 – 2025 that was launched by the Central Bank of Kenya in February, this year.
The strategy seeks to achieve a secure, fast, efficient and collaborative payments system that supports financial inclusion and innovations that benefit Kenyans under the realms of trust, security, Usefulness, Choice and Innovation.
Read also: Tough IMF conditions haunt Kenya in her quest for fresh loan disbursement
“Kenyans appreciate mobile money solutions better when they keep on finding more reasons to attach value to their mobile wallets, whether they are sending money, paying for goods and services, saving, borrowing or trading,” said Telkom Kenya’s CEO, Mugo Kibati.
Airtel Networks Kenya MD & CEO, Ashish Malholtra (left) and Telcom Kenya- Chief strategy
& Business Development Officer, Julius Cheptiony (right) as they hand over a dummy
cheque for Kshs. 900,000 to the Head Teacher- Muguga Green primary school, Samuel
Nderitu (centre) and the BOM Chairman Pius Masiga.
“The announcement made today, on Pay Bill interoperability, brings us closer to realising a cashless economy, further enhancing a seamless digital transactions ecosystem that gives the consumer more convenience and choice. Our customers will first be able to access this exciting addition via USSD *160#,” Mr Kibati added.
Safaricom’s CEO, Peter NDEGWA says: “Pay Bill interoperability between M-PESA, Airtel Money and T-Kash, follows that of ‘Send Money’ and Till interoperability. This innovation extends even more convenience to customers and businesses, transforming M-PESA into a one-stop solution to send and receive money and payments from any financial service locally, and our global partners.”
Airtel Kenya’s CEO, Ashish MALHOTRA says: “We are excited to be part of this change that seeks to provide Kenyans with an affordable, convenient and secure cashless payments platform that will provide more options that empower customers as they go about their day-to-day economic activity. Our customers can access this service via USSD *222# or *334#.”
The telcos made this announcement at the Muguga Green Primary School, where they each made a payment of Kes300,000 into the school’s Pay Bill number from their spokesperson’s respective mobile money wallets.
The money, Kes900,000, will be used by the school to meet some of its operational needs for the second school term of the year.
