Safaricom Restricts Customers From Sending Money to Unregistered Users on M-Pesa

Kenyan mobile network operator Safaricom has restricted customers from sending money to unregistered users on M-Pesa.

In a public notice, the company disclosed that the restriction will be effective from the 5th of February 2024.

The notice reads, 

“Effective February 5th, 2024, you will no longer be able to send money from M-PESA to unregistered mobile money customers. As a registered mobile money customer. You will be able to send and receive money across different mobile money providers such as Airtel and T-kash.

“We encourage customers who are not registered for mobile money services to register by visiting a Safaricom Shop or M-PESA Agent with their Identity Document.

Thank you for your continued support and for choosing M-PESA as your preferred mobile money service provider”.

In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom. Peter Ndegwa said that registered users will continue enjoying all services such as sending to and receiving cash from varied mobile money providers.

Before now, M-PESA  allowed customers to send money to unregistered Safaricom customers. While Safaricom did not state the reason for the recent restriction, it is seen as a bid to get unregistered mobile money users to get registered. 
 
Also, it is suggested that it is a move to tighten security on the platform. It is understood that these mobile money accounts could be used to move money around without revealing the owner of the account, a good way to perpetrate illegal transactions.