Safaricom, the leading telecommunications company in the country that provides M-Pesa services, has announced that it will no longer allow its users to send money to unregistered numbers. This move will significantly change the mobile money experience of M-Pesa users. The company released a statement on Saturday outlining the fundamental changes.
According to the announcement, starting from February 5th, 2024, users cannot send money from M-Pesa to unregistered mobile money customers. However, registered users will still have access to all services, including sending and receiving cash from various mobile money providers.
Safaricom emphasized that individuals can still transact as registered mobile money customers across different mobile money platforms, such as Airtel and T-Kash. The move aims to streamline financial services and create a more secure and regulated environment for mobile money transactions.
Safaricom justified this decision by stating that it aligns with the anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing regulations the Central Bank of Kenya set forth. By implementing this change, the company aims to enhance the safety and security of transactions through the M-Pesa platform.
The number of unregistered M-Pesa users affected by this directive is currently 49,500. Safaricom’s decision is tailored towards encouraging the remaining unregistered users to complete the registration process. To facilitate a smooth transition, the company assured that registered users would receive a notification if they attempted to send money to an unregistered recipient.
To continue enjoying M-Pesa services, Safaricom urged customers who were not registered for mobile money services to register with their preferred mobile service provider. For Safaricom customers, the registration process can be completed by visiting a Safaricom Shop or M-PESA Agent with a valid ID.
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