Safaricom plans to perform system maintenance on its popular M-PESA mobile money service. This work will happen on Sunday, August 11, 2024, from 11 PM to 4 AM the next day.
During this time, you may have trouble using some M-PESA features. These include:
- Lipa Na M-PESA Paybill
- Buy Goods and Services
- International Money Transfers (Western Union)
- M-PESA Global
- mySafaricom apps
Don’t worry – other Safaricom services will work as usual. You can still make calls, use data, send SMS, and access most M-PESA functions.
Safaricom picked this late-night slot to cause the least disruption for customers. They know it’s not ideal, but it’s needed to keep improving their services.
This isn’t the first time Safaricom has had to plan around customer needs. Last month, they changed their maintenance schedule due to big sports events. The UEFA European Football Championship and Copa América finals were on, and fans didn’t want to miss out.
Key points to remember:
- Maintenance date: August 11, 2024
- Time: 11 PM to 4 AM
- Affected services: Some M-PESA functions
- Working services: Calls, data, SMS, most M-PESA features
If you need to use the affected M-PESA services, try to do so before or after the maintenance window. Plan ahead, and you shouldn’t face any major issues.
Common questions about M-Pesa service interruptions
What happens when M-Pesa stops working for a while?
When M-Pesa services go down temporarily, you won’t be able to send or receive money, pay bills, or use other M-Pesa features. This usually happens during planned maintenance to improve the system.
Safaricom often schedules these outages late at night to minimize disruption.
How will money transfers be affected during the downtime?
During the outage, you can’t make any M-Pesa transactions. This includes sending money to others, withdrawing cash, or paying for goods and services.
Your M-Pesa balance stays safe, but you can’t access or use it until the system comes back online.
Will my scheduled payments go through during maintenance?
No, scheduled M-Pesa transactions won’t process while the system is down for maintenance. If you have any automatic payments set up, they’ll be delayed until M-Pesa is working again.
Plan ahead if you have important bills due during the outage window.
Are all M-Pesa features offline on Sunday night?
Most M-Pesa services will be unavailable during the maintenance period. This includes the M-Pesa app and mySafaricom app.
You might still be able to use M-Pesa via SIM toolkit or USSD, but it’s best to assume all features will be affected. Other SafaricoYm services like calls and texts should still work normally.
What should I do if I have problems during the outage?
If you encounter issues during the M-Pesa downtime:
- Stay calm – the problem is likely system-wide
- Don’t keep trying transactions – they won’t go through
- Wait until after the announced maintenance window
- Check Safaricom’s official social media for updates
- Contact customer service only if problems persist after M-Pesa is back online
How can I stay updated on M-Pesa’s status?
To keep informed about M-Pesa service interruptions:
- Follow Safaricom’s official social media accounts
- Check the Safaricom website for announcements
- Look for SMS notifications from Safaricom
- Pay attention to public notices in newspapers or online news sites
- Set up alerts on your phone for Safaricom updates
