Calculator

Fuliza M-PESA Cost Calculator (Kenya, 2026)

A KES 5,000 Fuliza cleared in 7 days costs KES 260 total (KES 50 access fee + KES 175 daily maintenance + KES 35 excise). Below: the full band reference, a day-by-day cost table for the example, and an interactive tool for any other amount and duration.

Worked example: KES 5,000 Fuliza cleared in 7 days

Amount borrowed	KES 5,000
Access fee (1%, one-off)	KES 50
Daily maintenance (KES 25 × 7 days)	KES 175
Excise on maintenance (20%)	KES 35
Total cost	KES 260
Total repayment	KES 5,260

Effective cost over the 7-day borrow: 5.2% of principal. Annualised that is roughly 271% APR, ruinous as a habit, workable for a genuine 1-day gap.

Day-by-day cost (KES 5,000 example)

Day outstanding	Cumulative maintenance	Cumulative excise	Total cost (incl. KES 50 access)
Day 1	KES 25	KES 5	KES 80
Day 2	KES 50	KES 10	KES 110
Day 3	KES 75	KES 15	KES 140
Day 4	KES 100	KES 20	KES 170
Day 5	KES 125	KES 25	KES 200
Day 6	KES 150	KES 30	KES 230
Day 7	KES 175	KES 35	KES 260

Same shape at any amount: 1% access fee is fixed, maintenance accrues per day in the band. Zero the balance early and you stop the meter.

Full Fuliza daily fee band table (2026)

Amount band (KES)	Daily maintenance	Free days
1 to 100	Free	All days free
101 to 500	KES 3/day	First 3 days free
501 to 1,000	KES 6/day	First 3 days free
1,001 to 1,500	KES 9/day	None
1,501 to 2,500	KES 12/day	None
2,501 to 70,000	KES 25/day (max)	None

On top of daily maintenance, a flat 1% access fee applies once per Fuliza, and a 20% excise applies to the maintenance total. Source: Safaricom "Restructure Fuliza with Free Daily Fees". Verified 30 August 2026.

What Fuliza is, and when it is cheapest

Fuliza is the M-PESA overdraft. When you try to send or pay more than your M-PESA balance, Fuliza covers the shortfall up to your assigned limit. Repayment is automatic from any incoming M-PESA transaction.

Fuliza is cheapest for very short, very small borrows. The 1-100 band is free. The 101-1,000 bands have their first three days free, which makes Fuliza effectively free if you clear the balance within 72 hours. Anything larger accrues from Day 1.

Fuliza balances outstanding for 91 days or more are reported to CRB, per Safaricom's stated escalation policy. Below 91 days, missed Fuliza does not go to CRB directly, but it does affect your Fuliza limit and your M-Shwari and KCB M-PESA credit eligibility.

Try your own numbers

Enter any amount and days outstanding. The calculator uses the same 2026 Safaricom tariff shown in the tables above.

Fuliza amount borrowed

KES

Days outstanding

days

Fuliza fee accrues daily until repaid. Most users repay within 1 to 3 days.

Result

Daily fee (incl. excise)

KES 30

Total fees (5 days)

KES 200

Total to repay

KES 5,200

Includes a one-off 1% access fee of KES 50 plus 5 × KES 30 maintenance.

Effective annualised cost (APR equivalent): 292%. Fuliza is designed for 1 to 3 day shortfalls, not as a substitute for a 30-day loan.

Daily fees shown include the 20% excise duty charged on the maintenance fee. The one-off 1% access fee is separate and is counted above. Source: Safaricom, Fuliza tariff, which Safaricom last updated 2025-06-23. Read 2026-09-15.

Effective APR · Fuliza M-PESA

~365%/yr

Published as ~1% per day on a typical 5-day overdraft, but annualised that's ~365% APR, the headline rate hides the true cost.

Fuliza's daily-fee model is the most expensive way to borrow in Kenya. A typical 5-day overdraft of KES 5,000 costs KES 25-50, feels small, but annualised it's 300-400% APR. Fine for a 1-day cash gap; ruinous as a habit.

Cheaper alternatives at this term

Hustler Fund: 8% per annum (~8% APR), radically cheaper if you can wait the few-second activation
M-Shwari: 7.5% per 30 days (~138% APR), still expensive but cheaper than rolling Fuliza
Salary advance from employer: usually free
SACCO emergency loan: 12-14% per annum

When Fuliza is the right tool

You are sending M-PESA to a recipient and short by KES 200, you expect M-PESA in tomorrow
You are at a Buy Goods till and need to top up by KES 1,500, salary lands within 48 hours
You need to complete a one-off transaction without abandoning the flow

When Fuliza is the wrong tool

You need cash for a week or longer (use M-Shwari, KCB M-PESA, or Hustler Fund instead)
You have repeatedly let Fuliza balances run for 5+ days (the daily fee structure punishes this)
You need cash to pay off another digital lender (you are stacking debt at compound rates)

Frequently asked

How is Fuliza calculated?

Fuliza charges a 1% access fee once, plus a daily maintenance fee scaled by amount band, plus 20% excise on that maintenance fee. Total cost = 1% access + (daily maintenance × days outstanding) + 20% excise on the maintenance total. Repayment is automatic from any incoming M-PESA.

What does KES 5,000 on Fuliza for 7 days cost?

KES 260. Access fee 1% = KES 50, daily maintenance in the 2,501-70,000 band = KES 25/day × 7 = KES 175, excise 20% on maintenance = KES 35. Total repayment KES 5,260.

Does Fuliza compound?

No. The daily fee is calculated on the original borrowed amount, not on accrued fees. So a KES 1,000 Fuliza outstanding for 5 days accrues fees on the KES 1,000 each day, not on a compounding balance.

What is the maximum Fuliza limit?

Limits are assigned automatically based on your M-PESA usage history. Most users see limits between KES 1,000 and KES 70,000. The published top-tier limit is KES 400,000 for high-usage accounts.

Does Fuliza report to CRB?

Not directly for a first missed day, but Fuliza balances outstanding for more than 91 days are reported to CRB. That is Safaricom's stated escalation. Persistent unpaid balances also affect your future Fuliza limit and your overall M-PESA credit eligibility.

Is Fuliza cheaper than a loan app?

For 1 to 3 day shortfalls, yes. For anything longer than a week, no. The daily fee adds up quickly. M-Shwari at 7.5% per 30 days is significantly cheaper than holding a Fuliza balance for 30 days.

How do I access Fuliza?

Dial *334# on your Safaricom line, choose Loans & Savings, then Fuliza. From the M-PESA app, tap Loans then Fuliza. Fuliza also auto-covers M-PESA transactions where your balance is short of the amount.