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Verified 13 September 2026

Paying for fuel: why there is no national fuel paybill

By Michael Mwangi · Fuel and cooking gas in Kenya hub · paybillke is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Fuel and cooking gas in Kenya.

Pay by card, or by Lipa na M-PESA, Buy Goods using the till number displayed at that station. There is no national fuel paybill for any Kenyan fuel brand, because forecourts are individually operated and each takes payment on its own merchant number.

Why the brands do not have one number

A Shell or Rubis forecourt is usually run by a dealer under the brand rather than by the oil company directly. The fuel and the signage come from the brand; the till belongs to the business operating that site. So there is no single Shell number to publish, in the same way there is no single Naivas till, and for the same underlying reason.

At the pump, step by step

  1. Tell the attendant the amount or the volume before they start, so the figure is agreed.
  2. Choose Lipa na M-PESA, then Buy Goods and Services.
  3. Enter the till number displayed at that station. Many stations will send a prompt instead.
  4. Enter the amount, your PIN, and confirm.
  5. Check the confirmation names the station before you drive off.

One quirk worth knowing about fuel and Buy Goods

Buy Goods is normally free for the customer, with the merchant paying the fee. Fuel is the documented exception in Safaricom’s own pricing: at fuel stations the customer bears the charge. It is a small amount but it is the one retail category where paying by till is not free to you, and it is worth knowing before you assume the pump price is the whole price.

About this page

paybillke is an independent payments directory and is not affiliated with any energy company. Checked 13 September 2026. Cooking gas prices move constantly and we publish none. Confirm any brand gas paybill on that brand’s own site before you send money to it.

Frequently asked

What is the Shell paybill number in Kenya?

There is not one. Fuel stations take card or Buy Goods on the individual station’s till.

Is there a national fuel paybill?

No. Forecourts are usually dealer-operated, so each station has its own merchant number.

Does paying for fuel by M-PESA cost me anything?

Yes, unusually. Buy Goods is normally free to the customer, but at fuel stations the customer bears the charge.

Can I pay for fuel with a fuel card instead?

Yes. Prepaid cards such as the Rubis card are topped up in advance and used at the pump instead of cash or M-PESA.

How do I know the till is the station’s?

Read the recipient name on the confirmation SMS before you drive off.