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Telecommunications giant Safaricom has introduced direct PayPal withdrawals through its M-PESA application — an update aimed at simplifying how Kenyans paid by global clients can access their funds.
This addition eliminates the need for web logins and manual redirections, offering a faster, app-native method to move money from PayPal into M-PESA wallets.
The feature resembles Equity Bank’s PayPal withdrawal service, an instant, bank-linked option.
Kenya has witnessed a rapid rise in remote work and digital freelancing, with thousands earning online through direct contracts with international clients or platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
Many of these workers rely on PayPal to receive international payments. PayPal is a widely used online payment system that allows individuals and businesses to send and receive money electronically.
It acts as a digital wallet, enabling users to link their bank accounts, credit cards, and debit cards for convenient online transactions.
Safaricom issues update
The previous process of using a separate web portal to transfer PayPal funds to M-PESA had long been criticised for delays and a clunky user experience.
Also Read: 3 Simple Steps to Cancel Unwanted Safaricom Subscriptions from Your Phone
While announcing that all withdrawals must now be done via the M-PESA super app, Safaricom in a notification warned that the PayPal-MPESA mobile money site will be discontinued on August 16, 2025.
“WARNING: Transferring funds between PayPal and M-PESA accounts via the PayPal Mobile Money is being discontinued on 16 August 2025. From 16 August 2025 this page and service on paypal-mobilemoney.com/m-pesa will be permanently shut down. To continue transferring money, you must link your PayPal account directly through the M-PESA app (not via the PayPal mini app or the PayPal Mobile Money website). All transfers will be processed using the link on the M-PESA application.”
Notably, the new feature is powered by Thunes — the same backend provider behind the longstanding PayPal–M-PESA web service — ensuring regulatory compliance, fraud protection, and data privacy across all transactions.
To avoid falling victim to scams or unauthorised platforms that mimic the PayPal–M-PESA workflow, users are encouraged to initiate transfers only through the official M-PESA app.
How to Withdraw PayPal funds via the M-PESA App
Note that the entire process happens within the app, eliminating the need to open browsers or third-party services.
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Open the M-PESA app on your phone (Ensure it is updated to the latest version on App Store or Play Store)
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Enter your PIN (Verify biometric/face)
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Navigate to the “PayPal” option under the Finance or Global Payments section.
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Click PayPal to log in and wait for the secure prompt to enter PIN/biometric/face to authorise transaction.
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Link your M-PESA and PayPal accounts (if not already linked via the PayPal Mobile Money portal).
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Enter the amount you wish to withdraw from your PayPal balance.
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Review fees and exchange rates shown upfront and confirm the withdrawal.
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Wait for funds to arrive, typically within minutes to a few hours, depending on the amount.
The update comes amid M-PESA’s growing influence in Safaricom’s business. According to the company’s financial statements for the financial year ending March 31, 2025, mobile money revenue rose by 15.2% year-on-year to Ksh161.1 billion.
This growth was driven by a 20.3% increase in chargeable transactions per active user, now averaging 37.92 per month, and a 10.5% rise in one-month active customers, reaching 35.82 million.
Average revenue per M-PESA user climbed 9.4% to Ksh395.22, while the number of agents expanded by 14.1% to nearly 299,000, maintaining wide physical access to cash-in and cash-out services.
The M-PESA app has recorded 13.7 million downloads and now supports 4.7 million users. In 2024 alone, Safaricom processed Ksh2.3 trillion through the app.
M-PESA wallets allow balances of up to Ksh500,000, with a single transaction limit of Ksh250,000 and a daily cap of Ksh500,000.
50 million subscribers
Safaricom on Thursday, July 24, also announced that the telecommunications company has surpassed 50 million customers across its mobile network in Kenya.
Also Read: Safaricom Breaks Records With 50 Million Kenyan Customers
According to the company, the achievement is partly as a result of the company’s yearlong customer engagement drive, which started last year and will culminate in its 25th anniversary celebrations in October 2025.
“We are honoured by the trust that over 50 million Kenyans have placed in us. This milestone reflects the deep connection we have built with Kenyans over the past two and a half decades, and as we approach our silver jubilee, we recommit ourselves to always being a force for good and creating what’s next for our customers,” said Dr. Peter Ndegwa, Group CEO, Safaricom PLC.
Beyond Kenya, Safaricom has successfully expanded its operations to Ethiopia, where it has also recently achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 10 million customers as of July 2025.
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