M-Pesa Charges Kenya 2026 | Send, Withdraw, Paybill & Fuliza

Safaricom’s M-Pesa remains the backbone of Kenya’s digital economy. Even with the rise of mobile banking apps and Airtel Money, millions of Kenyans still rely on M-Pesa daily to send money, pay bills, and buy goods.

However, if you are not careful, M-Pesa fees can quietly eat into your income. Safaricom periodically updates its tariff structure, and understanding the exact 2026 M-Pesa charges for sending money, withdrawing, using Paybill, and the Fuliza overdraft facility is the easiest way to budget your finances and avoid declined transactions.

Here is the complete, up-to-date guide to all M-Pesa charges in Kenya for 2026.

M-Pesa to M-Pesa Transfer Charges (Send Money) 2026

When you send money directly from your M-Pesa wallet to another M-Pesa user, the fee you pay depends entirely on the amount. Safaricom rewards smaller transactions with lower fees to encourage a cashless economy.

KES 1 to KES 100: Free (Zero charges)
KES 101 to KES 500: KES 7
KES 501 to KES 1,000: KES 13
KES 1,001 to KES 1,500: KES 25
KES 1,501 to KES 2,500: KES 35
KES 2,501 to KES 3,500: KES 50
KES 3,501 to KES 5,000: KES 60
KES 5,001 to KES 10,000: KES 85
KES 10,001 to KES 20,000: KES 105
KES 20,001 to KES 50,000: KES 150
KES 50,001 to KES 150,000: KES 205

Note: Sending money to registered M-Pesa users is always significantly cheaper than sending to unregistered numbers.

M-Pesa Agent Withdrawal Charges 2026

When you visit an M-Pesa agent to convert your digital balance into physical cash, the charges are slightly higher than sending money. This is because you are paying for the convenience of liquidity and the agent’s commission.

KES 50 to KES 100: KES 10
KES 101 to KES 500: KES 20
KES 501 to KES 1,000: KES 30
KES 1,001 to KES 1,500: KES 50
KES 1,501 to KES 2,500: KES 70
KES 2,501 to KES 3,500: KES 100
KES 3,501 to KES 5,000: KES 120
KES 5,001 to KES 10,000: KES 170
KES 10,001 to KES 20,000: KES 220
KES 20,001 to KES 50,000: KES 280

ATM Withdrawal Alternative: If you have a Safaricom card linked to your M-Pesa account, you can withdraw from an Equity, KCB, NCBA, or Co-op Bank ATM. ATM withdrawal charges are often KES 10 to KES 20 cheaper than agent fees for amounts between KES 1,000 and KES 5,000.

Lipa Na M-Pesa Charges (Paybill & Buy Goods) 2026

Paying for goods and services using M-Pesa is highly encouraged, and the tariff structure reflects that. There is a distinct difference between paying a Till Number and paying a Paybill Number.

Buy Goods (Till Numbers): When buying items in a supermarket, paying for a matatu, or paying a mechanic using their Till Number, the charges are incredibly low to protect the customer.

KES 1 to KES 100: Free
KES 101 to KES 500: KES 5
KES 501 to KES 1,000: KES 10
KES 1,001 to KES 1,500: KES 15
KES 1,501 to KES 2,500: KES 25
KES 2,501 to KES 3,500: KES 35
KES 3,501 to KES 5,000: KES 50
KES 5,001 to KES 10,000: KES 70
KES 10,001 to KES 20,000: KES 100
KES 20,001 to KES 50,000: KES 150
KES 50,001 to KES 150,000: KES 200

Paybill Numbers: Paying bills like KPLC tokens, DStv, NHIF/SHA, or school fees via Paybill is slightly more expensive than Buy Goods, especially for larger amounts, because these are often treated as business-to-business utility payments. The charges generally range from KES 10 for low amounts up to KES 220 for payments above KES 50,000.

M-Pesa to Bank Account Charges 2026

Moving money from M-Pesa directly to your bank account (or vice versa) is now seamless thanks to the Pesalink and M-Pesa integrations. Charges depend on the specific bank, but here are the standard 2026 averages for M-Pesa to Bank transfers:

KES 50 to KES 100: KES 10
KES 101 to KES 500: KES 20
KES 501 to KES 1,000: KES 30
KES 1,001 to KES 1,500: KES 45
KES 1,501 to KES 2,500: KES 55
KES 2,501 to KES 3,500: KES 65
KES 3,501 to KES 5,000: KES 75
KES 5,001 to KES 10,000: KES 110
KES 10,001 to KES 20,000: KES 160
KES 20,001 to KES 50,000: KES 250
KES 50,001 to KES 150,000: KES 300

Note: Banks like Equity and KCB sometimes run promotions where they subsidize these transfer fees if you use their specific mobile banking apps to initiate the transfer instead of using the M-Pesa SIM Toolkit.

Fuliza M-Pesa Charges & Limits 2026

Fuliza is Safaricom’s overdraft facility that allows you to complete M-Pesa transactions even when you have a zero balance. It is provided in partnership with NCBA Bank. In 2026, Fuliza charges a daily access fee, not a percentage.

Fuliza Tariff (Charged Per Day):

KES 1 to KES 100: KES 4 one-time daily fee
KES 101 to KES 500: KES 8 one-time daily fee
KES 501 to KES 1,000: KES 12 one-time daily fee
KES 1,001 to KES 1,500: KES 25 one-time daily fee
KES 1,501 to KES 2,500: KES 35 one-time daily fee
KES 2,501 to KES 3,500: KES 50 one-time daily fee

Fuliza Limits in 2026:

Maximum Daily Limit: You can only borrow up to KES 3,500 per day.
Maximum Outstanding Balance: You cannot have more than KES 30,000 in total unpaid Fuliza debt at any given time.
How it works: If you borrow KES 1,000 today, you are charged KES 12. If you do not repay that KES 1,000 tomorrow, you are charged another KES 12, bringing your total debt to KES 1,024. The fee keeps compounding daily until you deposit money into your M-Pesa to clear the balance.

How to Avoid High M-Pesa Charges in 2026

If you are tired of losing money to transaction fees, use these proven strategies to minimize your M-Pesa costs:

1. Maximize the Free KES 100 Zone Instead of sending someone KES 300 once, check if you can split it into smaller transactions if you are sending to the same person frequently. Sending KES 100 three times is completely free, saving you the KES 7 fee.

2. Use Bank to M-Pesa Transfers Instead of Agent Withdrawals If you need cash, do not withdraw from an M-Pesa agent. Instead, use your bank’s app (like Equity, KCB, or Co-op) to send money from your bank account to your M-Pesa. If you have an ATM card, withdraw from the bank’s ATM to avoid the higher M-Pesa agent withdrawal fees.

3. Consolidate Payments Instead of sending three separate M-Pesa transfers of KES 2,000 to the same person (which will cost you KES 35 x 3 = KES 105), send one lump sum of KES 6,000 (which only costs KES 85).

4. Avoid Fuliza for Long Periods Fuliza is great for emergencies, but it is a financial trap if used for daily survival. The daily KES 8 to KES 50 fees add up rapidly. If you have a KES 2,000 Fuliza balance and take 30 days to pay it, you will pay almost KES 360 in fees alone—effectively paying an 18% monthly interest rate on a tiny loan. Clear your Fuliza balance by 11:00 PM every night.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are M-Pesa to M-Pesa transfers still free for amounts under KES 100? Yes. In 2026, sending any amount between KES 1 and KES 100 to another registered M-Pesa user remains absolutely free of charge.

Does M-Pesa charge me to receive money from someone? No. You are never charged to receive money into your M-Pesa wallet, whether it is sent by an individual, a business, or disbursed as a loan. The sender always bears the transaction cost.

Can I use Fuliza to pay a Paybill? Yes, you can use Fuliza to pay for Paybill goods and services, buy airtime, and send money to other users. However, you cannot use Fuliza to withdraw cash at an agent, transfer money to a bank account, or pay another person’s Fuliza debt.

What happens if I default on a Fuliza loan? Safaricom will not send debt collectors after you for small Fuliza defaults. However, they will suspend your Fuliza facility. More importantly, if you default for more than 90 days, NCBA Bank reports you to the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB). Being negatively listed on CRB will block you from getting bank loans, mortgages, and even some jobs in Kenya.

Why do I get charged differently when sending to KCB Bank vs. sending to a friend? Sending money to a phone number uses the standard M-Pesa-to-M-Pesa tariff. When you select “Send to Bank” or use a specific bank’s Paybill (like KCB is 522522), you are using the M-Pesa-to-Bank tariff, which is slightly more expensive because it involves inter-bank switching fees facilitated by Pesalink.

Conclusion: Safaricom will not text you to remind you how to save money on their platform. By memorizing the tier jumps—especially the ones at KES 100, KES 500, and KES 1,000—you can easily avoid unnecessary M-Pesa charges in 2026. More importantly, keep your Fuliza balance at zero to protect your CRB score and keep your hard-earned money in your pocket.

M-Pesa Business Rates 2026: Complete Tariff Guide