Safaricom has announced a planned system upgrade that will temporarily affect its flagship mobile money platform, M-PESA, on Monday, September 22, 2025.
According to the notice, the upgrade will take place between 12:30 AM and 3:30 AM, during which time all M-PESA services will be unavailable. This includes sending and receiving money, paying bills, purchasing airtime through M-PESA, and other related services.
Why the Upgrade Matters
Safaricom conducts periodic system upgrades to ensure that M-PESA maintains its status as one of the world’s most reliable and secure mobile money platforms. These upgrades are designed to:
- Enhance transaction speeds and system performance.
- Strengthen security features for safer transactions.
- Introduce capacity for new innovations and services.
While the downtime is expected to be brief and scheduled during off-peak hours, the company is urging customers to plan their transactions in advance to avoid inconveniences.
M-PESA’s Role in Kenya’s Economy
Launched in 2007, M-PESA has grown into a cornerstone of Kenya’s financial ecosystem. With over 30 million active customers in Kenya and millions more across Africa, the platform processes billions of shillings in transactions daily, enabling payments for everything from basic utilities to e-commerce and international remittances.
Safaricom’s periodic system upgrades have played a critical role in ensuring the platform adapts to growing demand. For context, in its latest financial report, Safaricom revealed that M-PESA contributed more than 40% of the company’s service revenue, reflecting its importance not only to Safaricom but also to Kenya’s wider economy.
Safaricom has assured customers that normal service will resume immediately after the maintenance window and that the upgrade will not affect balances or past transactions.
The telco reiterated its commitment to continuous improvement, saying that these routine upgrades are part of efforts to deliver “faster, more secure, and innovative financial solutions” to Kenyans.
