How to Send Money to Multiple People at Once Via M-PESA

Sometimes, Safaricom users may need to send money to multiple recipients simultaneously, which is especially useful for small groups, such as families, friends, or for quick payouts.

Currently, M-PESA Safaricom’s mobile money service does not offer a USSD (*334#) or SIM Toolkit (STK) feature that allows sending money to multiple recipients in a single transaction.

However, users can utilize the MySafaricom App (or M-PESA Super App) to send money to up to five recipients simultaneously, making it ideal for small groups.

For larger volumes, such as salaries or business disbursements, businesses can use bulk payment APIs available through Safaricom’s developer portal.

This article examines the step-by-step process of conducting multiple transfers simultaneously.

Personal Transfers via MySafaricom App (Up to 5 Recipients)

The MySafaricom App allows users to send different amounts to up to five registered M-PESA numbers simultaneously.

To use this service:

1. Download the App: Android users can get it from the Google Play Store, while iPhone users can download it from the App Store.
2. Log In: Open the app, enter your Safaricom number, and authenticate with your M-PESA PIN.
3. Navigate to Send Money: Tap M-PESA > Send Money > Send to Many. Select Search Contact or Enter Phone Number for each recipient.
   • Enter the amount for each recipient.
   • Repeat for up to four more recipients (five in total).
   • The app will generate a summary of all transfers.
4. Review and Confirm: Check recipient names, amounts, and applicable fees. Enter your M-PESA PIN or use biometrics to authorize.
5. Complete the Transaction: You will receive an SMS confirmation for each transfer, and recipients will get instant notifications.

Limits and Fees

When using the multi-recipient feature on the MySafaricom App, the daily limit is capped at KSh 300,000 across all services. For individual transactions, you can send up to KSh 150,000 per recipient, but the feature only allows a maximum of five recipients per batch.

Also Read: How to Register an M-PESA Business

The cost of sending money follows the standard M-PESA tariffs. For example, transfers below KSh 100 to registered users are free, while sending amounts between KSh 1,001 and KSh 70,000 attracts fees ranging from KSh 27 to KSh 65.

There is no additional charge for using the multi-recipient option itself.

It’s also a requirement that all recipients must be registered M-PESA users to receive funds through this service.

Bulk Transfers for Businesses (B2C API)

For larger-scale disbursements such as salaries, dividends, or promotional payments, businesses can use Safaricom’s B2C (Business-to-Customer) API for real-time bulk transfers.

Also Read: How to Apply and Qualify to be an M-PESA Agent

Once set up, a business can either integrate the API for automated disbursements or upload a bulk file via the M-PESA web portal.

Steps to Set Up Bulk Payments

1. Register as a Business: Sign up at the Safaricom Developer Portal. Provide business documents such as a certificate of incorporation and KRA PIN.
2. Apply for API Access: Go to Products > B2C or Bulk Payments. Approval may take 3–7 days.
3. Integrate the API:
   • Use tools like Postman or custom software to upload a CSV file with recipient details (phone numbers, names, amounts).
   • Authenticate with your API credentials and initiate the batch.
4. Transfers are completed in real-time. You’ll receive reports via email or SMS, and recipients will get instant M-PESA notifications.

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