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Guides

Long-form guides on Kenyan mobile money, fees, and history.

Original reporting and explainers. Updated quarterly. No clickbait, no sponsored disguised as editorial.

History

The complete history of M-Pesa (2007 — 2026)

How a 2007 Vodafone-Safaricom experiment changed African finance forever, and where M-Pesa goes next.

12 min read

Guide

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

Comparison

M-Pesa vs Airtel Money vs T-Kash: 2026 comparison

Honest comparison of fees, coverage, paybill interoperability, and which to use when.

10 min read

Diaspora

Sending money to Kenya from abroad — the 2026 paybill guide

How to pay a Kenyan paybill from London, New York, Dubai, or Sydney — fees, FX, and the cheapest route.

14 min read

Lending

Fuliza explained: how it actually works in 2026

How the M-Pesa overdraft works, what it costs, and when it makes sense vs when it traps you.

8 min read

Utility

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

Government

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

Diaspora

How to use M-Pesa as a tourist or foreigner in Kenya

Visiting Kenya? Get set up at the airport in 30 minutes — what you need, what it costs, what to avoid.

8 min read

Safety

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

Government

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

Lending

Asset finance in Kenya: Watu, Mogo, OnFon, M-KOPA

How motorbike, phone, and asset finance works — major lenders compared, M-Pesa repayment, and the cost traps.

11 min read

Lending

Solar financing in Kenya: M-KOPA, Sun King, d.light

Pay-As-You-Go solar in Kenya — how it works, the major providers, total cost, and which fits your household.

10 min read

Telecom

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

Guide

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

Diaspora

M-Pesa Global explained: cross-border send and receive

How M-Pesa Global lets you send and receive internationally. Costs, mechanics, and where it fits.

9 min read

Diaspora

PayPal to M-Pesa: how to withdraw PayPal balance to M-Pesa

Kenyan freelancers withdrawing PayPal balances — Equity, Wise, and Lemfi routes compared.

9 min read

Telecom

How to pay Safaricom postpaid via M-Pesa (paybill 100100)

Step-by-step for postpaid mobile, Home Fibre, and Safaricom Business via paybill 100100.

8 min read

Telecom

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