Kenya’s mobile network operators Telkom, Safaricom, and Airtel, have made it possible for Kenyans to make direct mobile money payments to an M-PESA Pay Bill Number from any network, boosting merchant interoperability.
This move follows the telcos’ announcement in April this year, which saw Kenyans being able to make mobile money payments to M-PESA Buy Goods and Services Tills from any network.
The objective of the interoperability of Kenya’s mobile money service platforms is to allow Kenyans to make direct mobile money payments to any M-PESA merchant Pay Bill Number and Merchant Tills, from any network, thereby boosting the adoption and convenience of making cashless payments.
The next phase towards complete merchant interoperability will see Kenyans make mobile money payments from M-PESA to the Till and Pay Bill Numbers of the other networks: Airtel Money and T-kash.
This proposition is also in line with the principles of the National Payments Strategy, 2022 – 2025, which was launched by the Central Bank of Kenya in February this year which seeks to achieve a secure, fast, efficient and collaborative payments system that supports financial inclusion and innovations that benefit Kenyans:
- Trust
- Security
- Usefulness
- Choice
- Innovation
Telkom Kenya’s CEO, Mugo Kibati said the move on Pay Bill interoperability brings Kenya closer to realising a cashless economy, further enhancing a seamless digital transactions ecosystem that gives the consumer more convenience and choice.
Telkom customers will first be able to access this exciting addition via USSD *160#.
On his part Safaricom’s CEO, Peter Ndegwa said the launch extends even more convenience to customers and businesses, transforming M-PESA into a one-stop solution to send and receive money and payments from any financial service locally, and our global partners.
Airtel Kenya’s CEO, Ashish Malhotra added that this will provide more options that empower customers as they go about their day-to-day economic activity.
Airtel customers can access this service via USSD *222# or *334#.
