Verified 12 September 2026
M-PESA Till for a Boda Rider
By Aisha Hassan · M-PESA Till hub
Most boda riders start on Pochi la Biashara (personal till, no paperwork, activated in the app). Upgrade to a Buy Goods till once you register the business, want free customer payments, or run multiple riders under one number.
When Pochi is enough
One rider, informal, unregistered. Two-minute activation on *334#, daily limit around KES 300,000, no documents. Customers pay a send charge: under Safaricom's promo to 31 October 2026, nothing up to KES 200 and never more than KES 50.
When to upgrade to a till
Registered business, multiple riders, or you want customer payments to be free. Free customer payments alone drive more tips and cleaner cash flow.
Cost note
Pochi passes the send fee to the customer. A till is free for the customer, and the merchant pays the collection fee (0.55% capped at KES 200 from 7 August 2026, collections up to KES 500 free).
Frequently asked
Which starts faster?
Pochi la Biashara, no documents.
Which is free for customers?
The till.
Can I have both?
Not at the same time on one line; upgrade path is the norm.
Related
Verified 12 September 2026. Independent guide, not Safaricom. Confirm current merchant band table, reversal shortcode and any till-name-change process on safaricom.co.ke.