Safaricom has issued a fresh directive that could disrupt thousands of businesses using its mobile money platform. The telco announced that all M-Pesa Pay bill and till numbers without updated ownership declarations will be deactivated in the coming weeks.
The move, which comes amid tightening financial regulations from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), is aimed at enhancing transparency, preventing fraud, and curbing money laundering activities in Kenya’s rapidly growing digital finance space.
According to a public notice released this week, businesses and individuals using these services must submit verifiable Know Your Customer (KYC) details — including national ID or certificate of registration — or face automatic suspension of their mobile money collection channels.
Safaricom stated that this is not a new requirement but part of ongoing efforts to align with CBK’s compliance framework. However, the telco acknowledged that a large number of pay bill and till numbers still lack proper documentation, especially among small businesses and informal traders.
“We’re calling on all users of M-Pesa collection services to ensure their information is up to date. Failure to do so will lead to unavoidable disruptions,” said a Safaricom spokesperson.
To ease the process, Safaricom has launched a self-service portal and USSD option where customers can quickly verify and update their registration details.
This development underscores the growing intersection between digital finance and regulatory oversight in Kenya. As mobile money continues to dominate transactions, Safaricom and other providers are under pressure to balance innovation with accountability.
Business owners are advised to act promptly to avoid interruptions — because in a mobile-first economy, losing your till number is as good as closing your shop.
