Calculator
M-PESA Ratiba Calculator (Kenya, 2026)
Scheduling KES 5,000/month for 12 months = KES 156 in Ratiba fees on top of KES 60,000 disbursed. Total cost KES 60,156. Below: the cumulative cost table, worked example, and an interactive widget for any amount and schedule.
Worked example: KES 5,000 monthly, 12 executions
| Amount per scheduled execution | KES 5,000 |
| Executions (monthly for 1 year) | 12 |
| M-PESA send fee per execution (5,001-7,500 band) | KES 13 |
| Total M-PESA fees over 12 months | KES 156 |
| Total disbursed to recipient | KES 60,000 |
| Total cost (disbursed + fees) | KES 60,156 |
Ratiba the product is free; you only pay the standard per-transaction M-PESA fee for the channel used (send, paybill, or buy-goods). Cancellation is free at any time.
Cumulative cost over 12 monthly executions
| Month | Cumulative disbursed | Cumulative fees | Cumulative total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | KES 5,000 | KES 13 | KES 5,013 |
| Month 2 | KES 10,000 | KES 26 | KES 10,026 |
| Month 3 | KES 15,000 | KES 39 | KES 15,039 |
| Month 4 | KES 20,000 | KES 52 | KES 20,052 |
| Month 5 | KES 25,000 | KES 65 | KES 25,065 |
| Month 6 | KES 30,000 | KES 78 | KES 30,078 |
| Month 7 | KES 35,000 | KES 91 | KES 35,091 |
| Month 8 | KES 40,000 | KES 104 | KES 40,104 |
| Month 9 | KES 45,000 | KES 117 | KES 45,117 |
| Month 10 | KES 50,000 | KES 130 | KES 50,130 |
| Month 11 | KES 55,000 | KES 143 | KES 55,143 |
| Month 12 | KES 60,000 | KES 156 | KES 60,156 |
Change the amount and the fee band changes with it, use the widget below to test different amounts. Source: Safaricom M-PESA tariff (safaricom.co.ke/tariffs-limits). Verified 30 August 2026.
What Ratiba is (and is not)
Ratiba is M-PESA's standing-order feature. It schedules a recurring transfer at a fixed cadence (weekly, monthly, quarterly, custom). Common uses: rent, school fees, SACCO contributions, staff stipends, subscription payments. Setup and cancellation are free; each execution just runs the standard M-PESA tariff for that channel.
Ratiba does not extend credit. If the M-PESA account is short of the scheduled amount at run time, the execution fails and Ratiba retries once; it does not typically auto-tap Fuliza. Top up the account before the schedule date to avoid missed executions.
For payments to a paybill or till, the fee is the standard paybill or buy-goods tariff (which differs from send-to-number). For a direct number-to-number transfer, the fee is the send-money band. The widget below defaults to send-money; adjust the fee if paying a paybill or till.
Try your own numbers
Enter the amount per execution, the M-PESA fee per execution (look it up on the M-PESA fees calculator if unsure), and the number of executions.
KES
KES
Look up the fee on the M-PESA fees calculator.
Result
Total cost
KES 301,260
Total disbursed
KES 300,000
Total M-PESA fees
KES 1,260
What is M-PESA Ratiba?
Ratiba is the M-PESA scheduled-payment feature: automate a recurring transfer to any M-PESA number, paybill, or buy-goods till at a fixed frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly). Setup and cancellation are free; each execution pays the standard M-PESA tariff for that channel.
How much does a Ratiba scheduled payment cost?
The Ratiba product itself is free. Each execution charges the standard M-PESA fee: send-money to a registered number, paybill fee, or buy-goods fee, whichever applies. Example: a monthly send of KES 5,000 costs KES 13 per execution, KES 156 over 12 months.
What does KES 5,000/month for 12 months cost in Ratiba fees?
Approximately KES 156 total. KES 5,000 sits in the 5,001-under-and-not-Fuliza band of the M-PESA send tariff (fee KES 13 for that band). Multiplied by 12 executions = KES 156 in fees over the year, on top of the KES 60,000 disbursed.
Can I cancel or pause a Ratiba schedule?
Yes. Cancellation and pausing are free at any time. Dial *334# then choose the Ratiba/Standing Order option, or use the M-PESA app under Automated Payments. Fees only apply on actual executions.
What if the account is short of the scheduled amount?
Ratiba does NOT auto-tap Fuliza in most implementations; the execution simply fails and Ratiba retries once. Top up the M-PESA account before the scheduled date, or set up Fuliza pre-authorisation separately.
How do I set up Ratiba?
Dial *334#, select Automated Payments (option 8 in most Safaricom menus), Ratiba, choose the payment type (Send / Paybill / Buy Goods), enter recipient details, set the frequency and start date, confirm with PIN.