M-PESA charges 2026: the complete guide
Safaricom has held M-PESA fees unchanged into 2026, giving Kenya’s 34 million M-PESA users a stable cost structure across withdrawals, transfers, and Lipa na M-PESA payments. All fees shown below are inclusive of the 20% excise duty applied to every M-PESA transaction under Kenya’s Finance Act.
M-PESA remains the backbone of Kenya’s digital economy, processing the equivalent of more than 53% of GDP annually through its network. Understanding the tariff structure matters whether you are managing household cash flow or running a business.
What is always free
Deposits into your M-PESA wallet at any agent outlet are free. Sending money to any registered M-PESA user for amounts between Ksh1 and Ksh100 attracts no charge. Registration, balance enquiries, PIN changes, and airtime purchases through M-PESA are all free. Lipa na M-PESA Buy Goods (till number) payments are free for customers; merchants bear a fee on their end.
Agent withdrawal charges
These are the fees for withdrawing cash at any M-PESA agent outlet or select Safaricom store. The minimum withdrawal at an agent is Ksh50. The maximum per transaction is Ksh250,000.
| Withdrawal amount | Fee |
|---|---|
| Ksh1 to Ksh49 | Not permitted |
| Ksh50 to Ksh100 | Ksh11 |
| Ksh101 to Ksh2,500 | Ksh29 |
| Ksh2,501 to Ksh3,500 | Ksh52 |
| Ksh3,501 to Ksh5,000 | Ksh69 |
| Ksh5,001 to Ksh7,500 | Ksh87 |
| Ksh7,501 to Ksh10,000 | Ksh115 |
| Ksh10,001 to Ksh15,000 | Ksh167 |
| Ksh15,001 to Ksh20,000 | Ksh185 |
| Ksh20,001 to Ksh35,000 | Ksh197 |
| Ksh35,001 to Ksh50,000 | Ksh278 |
| Ksh50,001 to Ksh250,000 | Ksh309 |
ATM withdrawal charges
M-PESA users can withdraw from partner bank ATMs by generating a withdrawal code on their phone. The minimum ATM withdrawal is Ksh200 and the maximum per transaction is Ksh35,000.
| ATM withdrawal amount | Fee |
|---|---|
| Ksh200 to Ksh2,500 | Ksh35 |
| Ksh2,501 to Ksh5,000 | Ksh69 |
| Ksh5,001 to Ksh10,000 | Ksh115 |
| Ksh10,001 to Ksh35,000 | Ksh203 |
Send money charges
The same tariff applies whether sending to a registered M-PESA user, a Pochi La Biashara account, a Business Till, or a registered Airtel Money or T-Kash user. Cross-network fees were harmonised to match Safaricom-to-Safaricom rates. Transfers to unregistered users are disabled.
| Amount sent | Fee |
|---|---|
| Ksh1 to Ksh100 | Free |
| Ksh101 to Ksh500 | Ksh7 |
| Ksh501 to Ksh1,000 | Ksh13 |
| Ksh1,001 to Ksh1,500 | Ksh23 |
| Ksh1,501 to Ksh2,500 | Ksh33 |
| Ksh2,501 to Ksh3,500 | Ksh53 |
| Ksh3,501 to Ksh5,000 | Ksh57 |
| Ksh5,001 to Ksh7,500 | Ksh78 |
| Ksh7,501 to Ksh10,000 | Ksh90 |
| Ksh10,001 to Ksh15,000 | Ksh100 |
| Ksh15,001 to Ksh20,000 | Ksh105 |
| Ksh20,001 to Ksh250,000 | Ksh108 |
Transaction limits
The maximum amount per single send or withdrawal transaction is Ksh250,000. The daily transaction ceiling and maximum wallet balance are both capped at Ksh500,000. ATM withdrawals are subject to a lower per-transaction maximum of Ksh35,000.
Three things worth knowing
Agent withdrawals are deliberately priced higher than digital transfers. The gap is structural: agent fees include the commission Safaricom pays to its agent network. Paying directly via M-PESA, whether through Lipa na M-PESA, Paybill, or a direct transfer, is always cheaper than withdrawing cash and paying in person.
The fee structure contains band-edge traps that catch users off guard. Sending Ksh100 is free; sending Ksh101 costs Ksh7. Withdrawing Ksh2,500 at an agent costs Ksh29; withdrawing Ksh2,501 costs Ksh52. Planning withdrawals and transfers to stay within cheaper bands can reduce costs meaningfully over time, particularly for small businesses transacting daily.
All M-PESA fees already include the 20% excise duty imposed by the Kenya Revenue Authority under the Finance Act. There is no additional tax applied at the point of transaction.
To confirm any charge before transacting, dial *334# or check the M-PESA app. For self-reversals of incorrect transactions, forward the confirmation SMS to 456. Customer support is available at 100 (prepay), 200 (postpay), or by messaging @Safaricom_Care on WhatsApp at 0722 000100.
Source: Safaricom M-PESA Charges