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Lending

How to get an M-PESA loan via USSD (Kenya 2026)

The exact menu path, on any Safaricom-registered phone.

AO
by Reviewed by Michael Mwangi 8 min read Updated 26 August 2026Verified 26 Aug 2026

Steps

  1. Dial *334#.
  2. Select Loans and Savings.
  3. Choose M-Shwari or KCB M-PESA.
  4. Select Loan.
  5. Enter the amount you want to borrow (within your displayed limit).
  6. Review the confirmation screen: principal, fee, total repayable, due date.
  7. Enter your M-PESA PIN to confirm.
  8. Funds land in your M-PESA balance within seconds.

What to check on the confirmation screen

  • Total repayable. That is the number that matters, not the headline fee.
  • Due date. Typically 30 days out. Diarise.
  • Excise applied. Statutory excise on the fee is added on top; the total repayable includes it.

If declined

Common reasons and fixes: see why loan apps reject you in Kenya. In short: CRB listing, low M-PESA activity, new SIM, previous default.

If declined for both M-Shwari and KCB M-PESA, try Hustler Fund via *254# next.

Repayment

Repayment via the same M-PESA menu > Loans and Savings > (product) > Repay Loan. Or send from any M-PESA to the product paybill. The confirmation screen at repayment shows the outstanding balance.

Alternatives

  • Fuliza (M-PESA overdraft, engages automatically). Dial *334#, then Loans and Savings, then Fuliza.
  • Hustler Fund via *254#.
  • Timiza via *848#.
  • Equity Eazzy via *247#.

Sources

  1. Safaricom PLC. M-PESA menu USSD as published on safaricom.co.ke.
  2. KCB Bank Kenya and NCBA Bank Kenya. Loan product terms displayed on the M-PESA confirmation screen at acceptance.

FAQ

What is the M-PESA loan USSD?

*334# opens the M-PESA menu on a Safaricom line. Loans sit under Loans and Savings.

Which loans are available in the M-PESA menu?

M-Shwari (NCBA) and KCB M-PESA (KCB) are the two main term-loan products; Fuliza engages automatically when you overspend rather than being a discrete menu loan.

What if the code fails?

Usually network congestion. Wait 60 seconds and retry. If it fails repeatedly, call Safaricom customer care on 100.

Further reading

Curated external sources we cite. Open in a new tab.