As 2025 begins, Safaricom has announced updated M-Pesa charges for sending and withdrawing money.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the new rates, covering both money transfers and withdrawals.
Sending Money Charges
The cost of sending money via M-Pesa has been harmonized across networks. Transfers to Airtel Money and Telkom’s T-Kash now match the rates for Safaricom-to-Safaricom transactions.
However, transfers to unregistered users have been discontinued due to fraud and money laundering concerns.
For example, sending Ksh1,000 costs Ksh13, whether transferring to Safaricom, Airtel Money, or T-Kash.
Below is the full breakdown of M-Pesa charges:
| Amount to Send | To Safaricom (Fees) | To Airtel/Telkom (Fees) |
|---|---|---|
| Ksh1 – Ksh49 | Free | Free |
| Ksh50 – Ksh100 | Free | Free |
| Ksh101 – Ksh500 | Ksh7 | Ksh7 |
| Ksh501 – Ksh1,000 | Ksh13 | Ksh13 |
| Ksh1,001 – Ksh1,500 | Ksh23 | Ksh23 |
| Ksh1,501 – Ksh2,500 | Ksh33 | Ksh33 |
| Ksh2,501 – Ksh3,500 | Ksh53 | Ksh53 |
| Ksh3,501 – Ksh5,000 | Ksh57 | Ksh57 |
| Ksh5,001 – Ksh7,500 | Ksh78 | Ksh78 |
| Ksh7,501 – Ksh10,000 | Ksh90 | Ksh90 |
| Ksh10,001 – Ksh15,000 | Ksh100 | Ksh100 |
| Ksh15,001 – Ksh20,000 | Ksh105 | Ksh105 |
| Ksh20,001 – Ksh35,000 | Ksh108 | Ksh108 |
| Ksh35,001 – Ksh50,000 | Ksh108 | Ksh108 |
| Ksh50,001 – Ksh250,000 | Ksh108 | Ksh108 |
The maximum amount that can be sent in one transaction is Ksh250,000, with the maximum daily transaction limit capped at Ksh500,000.
Withdrawal Charges
Withdrawal charges are higher than sending fees. For instance, withdrawing Ksh1,000 costs Ksh29, compared to the Ksh13 sending fee. Below is a summary of the withdrawal fees:
| Withdrawal Amount | Withdrawal Charges |
|---|---|
| Ksh1 – Ksh49 | N/A |
| Ksh50 – Ksh100 | Ksh11 |
| Ksh101 – Ksh500 | Ksh29 |
| Ksh501 – Ksh1,000 | Ksh29 |
| Ksh1,001 – Ksh1,500 | Ksh29 |
| Ksh1,501 – Ksh2,500 | Ksh29 |
| Ksh2,501 – Ksh3,500 | Ksh52 |
| Ksh3,501 – Ksh5,000 | Ksh69 |
| Ksh5,001 – Ksh7,500 | Ksh87 |
| Ksh7,501 – Ksh10,000 | Ksh115 |
| Ksh10,001 – Ksh15,000 | Ksh167 |
| Ksh15,001 – Ksh20,000 | Ksh185 |
| Ksh20,001 – Ksh35,000 | Ksh197 |
| Ksh35,001 – Ksh50,000 | Ksh278 |
| Ksh50,001 – Ksh250,000 | Ksh309 |
The maximum withdrawal amount per transaction is Ksh250,000, while withdrawals below Ksh50 are not permitted.
M-Pesa Growth and Achievements
In 2024, M-Pesa experienced significant growth:
- Customer Base: 34 million active users by December 2024.
- Transaction Volume: Increased by 30.6% to 17.09 billion transactions.
- Revenue: Grew 16.6% year-on-year to Ksh77.22 billion.
- Agents: Expanded to 266,071 nationwide.
- Merchants: Reached 658,669 Lipa Na M-Pesa merchants.
Notable initiatives, such as Lipa Mdogo Mdogo, enabled 1.6 million Kenyans to acquire their first smartphones.
Additionally, Safaricom disbursed $4.37 billion in affordable credit to over 7.5 million customers and 52,000 merchants.
As M-Pesa continues to enhance its services, these updates reflect its commitment to convenience and transparency while addressing customer concerns.
by GEOFFREY MBUTHIA
