How to Buy KPLC Tokens via M-PESA (Paybill 888880)

Step by step

1. Open M-PESA, or dial *334#.
2. Choose Lipa na M-PESA, then Pay Bill.
3. Enter business number 888880.
4. Enter your prepaid meter number as the account. Read it off the meter and check every digit.
5. Enter the amount you want to spend.
6. Enter your M-PESA PIN and confirm.
7. Wait for the SMS with the 20-digit token, then key it into the meter.

The account number is the meter number, not your phone

This is the single most common mistake. The account field takes the meter number printed on the prepaid meter, usually 11 digits. It is not your phone number, not your ID, and not the KPLC account number from a postpaid bill. A token bought against the wrong meter number loads onto that meter, not yours, and getting it back means applying for reallocation.

Other ways to buy the same token

Dial *977# and choose prepaid services, then buy token. Use the myPower app. Or buy through a bank channel: KCB on *522#, Family Bank Pesapap, Equity or Co-op. Airtel Money reaches it on *334#. The token you receive is identical whichever channel you use; only the payment route differs.

Why a token buys fewer units than you expect

Part of every purchase goes to fixed charges and taxes rather than energy: the fuel energy cost, the forex adjustment, the inflation adjustment, the EPRA and Rural Electrification levies, the water levy, and VAT. Because several of those are fixed, they take a proportionally bigger bite out of a small token. Buying one larger token is usually better value than several tiny top-ups.

If the token does not arrive

It is almost always a delivery delay, not lost money. Confirm the M-PESA message came through and keep the transaction code. Then retrieve the token yourself on *977# under last tokens, or in the myPower app. If it still has not appeared after a few minutes, call 97771 with your M-PESA code, the amount and your meter number.