Kenyan supermarkets: no paybill, a till per branch
No Kenyan supermarket chain has a national paybill. You pay Buy Goods at the till, the cashier usually sends the prompt to your phone, and the till number belongs to that branch rather than the chain.
About Kenyan supermarkets
Kenya’s major grocery chains, Naivas, Carrefour, Quickmart, Cleanshelf, Chandarana Foodplus, Greenspoon and Zucchini, all take M-PESA the same way: Lipa na M-PESA, Buy Goods at the checkout, not Pay Bill. There is no chain-wide paybill to memorise. Online, each chain’s own app or website takes M-PESA, card, and in some cases cash or M-PESA on delivery.
Paying at supermarkets
Frequently asked
Do Kenyan supermarkets have a paybill number?
No. Supermarkets take Lipa na M-PESA Buy Goods at the till, not Pay Bill, and the till belongs to the branch rather than the chain.
What is the Naivas till number?
There is no single one. Each branch has its own and large stores run more than one. Use the number displayed at your checkout.
Does paying by till cost me anything?
No. Buy Goods is free for the customer and the merchant pays the fee. Pay Bill is the rail where the customer usually carries the charge.
Why does the cashier just ask me to approve a prompt?
Most supermarket POS systems now trigger an STK push with the amount pre-filled. Check the amount and the merchant name before entering your PIN.
Which supermarkets deliver in Nairobi?
Naivas, Carrefour, Quickmart, Greenspoon, Cleanshelf, Chandarana Foodplus and Zucchini all offer online ordering with delivery.
Can I pay for groceries on delivery?
Carrefour offers M-PESA on delivery for orders below KES 5,000, and Greenspoon takes cash on delivery. Most others want payment at checkout.