M-PESA users will no longer access full transaction details in Paybill, Till, and Buy Goods payments after the Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) privacy protection move.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has authorised Safaricom to implement phone number masking across M-Pesa transactions.
According to the CBK’s National Payments Strategy 2022–2025, the bank outlined a data protection framework tailored for digital payments, committing to facilitating the development of a framework for financial data protection.
“The focus will be on enhancing safeguards on how payment data is collected, stored and shared. The overall objective will be to ensure payments data is used safely and securely to enhance a user’s privacy, reducing fraud and facilitating positive elements such as use of data to enhance security, innovation, access to new services and customer-centricity approaches,” the strategy read in part.
How M-Pesa Will Hide Users’ Details
As CBK has approved Safaricom’s plan to mask phone numbers in mobile money transactions, Kenyans will be able to send money without exposing their full number, even to tills and paybills.
Merchants will continue receiving payment notifications, but customers’ full phone numbers will no longer be visible; instead, they will be shown in a masked format, for example, 0722XXXXXX.
Also Read: Why You Should Stop Showing Your M-PESA Messages to Merchants
The payment process remains unchanged; the update only limits the amount of personal data that travels with each transaction.
Safaricom had previously applied similar privacy measures in its Pochi la Biashara service, as users access transaction details with the phone numbers unrevealed.
CBK’s approval now extends this protection the all Mpesa merchant transactions.
Merchants are expected to verify payments through M-Pesa business apps, USSD codes, or integrated point-of-sale systems, rather than accessing full phone numbers.
How to Reverse Money Sent to the Wrong Safaricom Paybill and Till Numbers
Safaricom customers using M-Pesa to complete transactions through Paybill or Till numbers can easily make mistakes.
A simple typing error, entering the wrong number, and pressing “OK” may send money to the wrong business.
Also Read: How to Reverse Money Sent to the Wrong Number Via M-PESA from Outside Kenya
Unlike reversing money sent to the wrong individual, getting a refund from a Paybill or Till transaction isn’t always straightforward. However, a reversal or recovery process may be possible, and acting quickly greatly improves the chances of getting your money back.
Reversing payments to Business Tills requires more verification and additional checks than regular M-PESA transfers.
Before you reach out to Safaricom, make sure you have the transaction ID, the incorrect Paybill or Till number you paid, the amount you sent, and the date the transaction occurred. These details help customer care act faster.
Dial 100 or 234, explain the error, and request a reversal. Safaricom will review the transaction, contact the merchant on your behalf, check whether any service was delivered, and begin the mediation process.
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