David Wachira
Writer — Telecom, M-PESA Mechanics & Government Paybills
David Wachira covers the technical and operational side of M-PESA — how the app works, paybill mechanics under the hood, paybill scams and how to spot them, and the often-underexplained world of government paybills (KRA, eCitizen, SHA, KMTC, KIMC). He spent five years working on M-PESA-adjacent products with a Nairobi fintech, building integrations and supporting merchants through paybill onboarding. He writes paybillke's how-to guides and operational deep-dives, and reviews every utility, telecom, and government paybill before publication.
Areas of expertise
- M-PESA app and USSD mechanics
- Paybill operations and scam patterns
- Government services (KRA, eCitizen, SHA, NSSF)
- Telecom and pay-TV paybills
- Lipa na M-PESA Buy Goods, Pochi, and Bulk Payment
Articles by David (23)
How to buy Airtel airtime via M-PESA (2026)
Three practical methods, the M-PESA-to-Airtel-Money cross-network flow, and the cleanest way to top up an Airtel line from a Safaricom account.
8 min read
How to send money from M-PESA to Airtel Money (2026)
Cross-network send from M-PESA to Airtel Money — fees, settlement time, paybill interoperability, and how to handle stuck transactions.
8 min read
How to deposit money into M-PESA without an agent
Five practical alternatives to agent deposit — bank-to-M-PESA pull, ATM cardless, M-PESA Global, Pochi sweep, and branch deposits.
9 min read
How to download your M-PESA statement (5 methods, 2026)
App, USSD *334#, SMS, email request, or Safaricom shop. Each method has a different period, format, and use case.
9 min read
How to reverse an M-PESA transaction in Kenya (2026)
The exact code, app flow, and process for reversing M-PESA. Realistic timelines and what reversal actually works for.
9 min read
New M-PESA app 2026: features, download, and what changed
Every feature in the new M-PESA app, install steps, what changed, troubleshooting, and how it compares with Safaricom OneApp.
11 min read
Ziidi by Safaricom: how it works (with or without the M-PESA app)
Safaricom's money-market savings product inside M-PESA — returns, fees, withdrawal rules, and the USSD route for users without the M-PESA app.
10 min read
Give to Nairobi churches via M-PESA: 20 paybills (2026 directory)
Verified paybills for the major Nairobi churches — Catholic, Anglican, PCEA, Pentecostal, Baptist, Vineyard. Plus tithing best practices and tax considerations.
11 min read
How to apply for an M-PESA paybill or till number (2026)
Requirements, application steps, fees, processing time, and which Safaricom Lipa na M-PESA product fits your business.
11 min read
Bus tickets via M-PESA in Kenya 2026: Tahmeed, Modern Coast, Easy Coach
The major intercity bus operators in Kenya — paybill numbers, booking flow, fare ranges, cross-border routes, and the scams to avoid.
9 min read
How to pay your Nakuru water bill via M-PESA paybill 111444
NAWASSCO account format, billing cycle, prepaid water, leak detection, and the small things that trip up new residents.
8 min read
How to pay your Eldoret water bill via M-PESA paybill 511000
ELDOWAS account format, billing cycle, common reading issues, prepaid switching, and disconnection avoidance.
8 min read
How to pay GOtv via M-PESA paybill 423655
GOtv Kenya M-PESA paybill, package prices for Lite through Supa Plus, and how to fix activation stalls.
9 min read
How to pay DStv via M-PESA paybill 444900
The official DStv Kenya paybill, every package price, and the troubleshooting fixes when reactivation stalls.
9 min read
Safaricom OneApp explained: M-Pesa, mySafaricom, all in one
What OneApp does well, what it doesn't yet, and whether you should switch from standalone M-Pesa app.
10 min read
How to pay Safaricom postpaid via M-Pesa (paybill 200200)
Step-by-step for postpaid mobile, Home Fibre, and Safaricom Business via paybill 200200.
8 min read
Paybill interoperability in Kenya: M-Pesa ↔ Airtel Money ↔ T-Kash
How CBK-mandated cross-network paybill payments actually work in 2026 and the practical implications.
9 min read
How to buy Safaricom airtime via M-Pesa (and why paybill isn't the right tool)
Safaricom prepaid airtime via M-Pesa — methods, costs, and the paybill misconception worth clearing up.
8 min read
SHA paybill explained: paying your Social Health Authority contribution
What changed when NHIF became SHA, the new paybill, who has to pay, and how to back-pay if you missed a month.
10 min read
Paybill scams in Kenya — and how to spot them
Common scam patterns, the fake-paybill trick, what Safaricom can and can't do, and how to verify before you send.
7 min read
How to pay KRA via M-Pesa — taxes, PRN, common mistakes
Generate a PRN on iTax, pay paybill 572572, and avoid the five mistakes that send money to KRA but don't clear your obligation.
8 min read
How to pay KPLC via M-Pesa (postpaid + prepaid) — 2026
Step-by-step for postpaid bills, prepaid token purchases, what to do if tokens don't arrive, and Lipa Mdogo Mdogo.
7 min read
How M-Pesa paybills actually work
The technical anatomy: from the merchant, through Safaricom, to the bank — and why charges work the way they do.
8 min read
More from the team
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