The launch of M-PESA Go on November 26, 2022, ushered in a new era of SIM card usage for minors, as they got an opportunity to use a service purposely designed for them.
In a statement, telecommunication giant Safaricom which owns M-PESA, said the move will foster a generation versed in financial matters by availing investment options for kids at a young age.
“The service seeks to empower parents and guardians to raise a financially healthy generation who are prepared for a cashless world,” said Safaricom.
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Safaricom also said that the move will enhance oversight of phone usage by parents to ensure they do not engage in moral and within limits for minors.
“In M-PESA Go, we are providing a revolutionary product designed for youngsters, but with oversight by parents or guardians,” said Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa during the launch of the app.
But what exactly does M-PESA Go offer and what is its advantage over the normal M-PESA services?
For the first time, parents will let their children use M-PESA freely without the fear of having them engage in any money usage.
With the immense power bestowed onto parents with the new M-PESA service, parents will have the ability to enable or disable the following services.
Send and receive money services.
Lipa na M-PESA Paybill and Merchant Payments.
Buy Airtime
Buy Bundles
My Account services
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On the withdrawal of money, the children will need their parent’s ID under whom the SIM card is registered.
In addition, parents will be able to control the following services on their kids’ sim cards;
Manage relationships of their children.
Add or remove any M-PESA Go accounts.
View accounts registered under their ID.
View a junior account Information.
Check account balance.
View the last 5 transactions made by a junior.
Indeed, M-PESA Go has provided an unprecedented opportunity for parents to prevent their children from participating in gambling, which they have always been striving to fight in vain.
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