Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telecom provider, continues to innovate ways for its customers to stay connected. One of these innovative solutions is Niokolee, a service that allows you to request airtime (kredo) from friends and family. Whether you’re short of airtime or just need a quick top-up, Niokolee ensures you’re never left without the ability to make calls or send texts. This guide will walk you through how to use the Niokolee service effectively.
What Is Niokolee?
Niokolee is a convenient service offered by Safaricom, where prepaid subscribers can request airtime from other Safaricom users. Whether you’re out of kredo or simply in need of a boost, Niokolee allows you to request airtime amounts ranging from Ksh 10 to Ksh 100. You can request airtime up to twice a day, with a monthly limit of 10 requests.
It’s important to note that while you can act as both a requestor (the person asking for airtime) and a sponsor (the person giving airtime), you cannot share kredo that was given to you by another sponsor.
Key Features of Niokolee
- Eligible Users: Available for all Safaricom prepaid subscribers (except those roaming internationally).
- Airtime Amounts: You can request airtime in amounts of Ksh 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100.
- Request Limit: You can initiate up to two requests per day and a total of ten requests per month.
- Validity Period: The airtime you receive must be used within 24 hours, after which it expires.
- Usage: The airtime can be used for both on-net (Safaricom to Safaricom) and off-net (Safaricom to other networks) calls and SMS. However, it cannot be used for direct calls to numbers on other networks.
How to Make a Niokolee Request
Requesting airtime via Niokolee is simple and can be done in just a few steps. Here’s how:
- *Dial 444# from your Safaricom line.
- Select the option for Niokolee, and then choose Request Kredo.
- Enter the Safaricom number of the person you want to request airtime from.
- Select the amount of airtime you want to request (choose from Ksh 10, 20, 30, 50, or 100).
- Submit your request, and a notification will be sent to the sponsor (the person from whom you’re requesting airtime).
How to Accept a Niokolee Request
If someone has requested airtime from you, you’ll receive a notification. Here’s how to accept the request:
- You’ll receive a notification from the number 444 444, asking you to accept or decline the Niokolee request.
- If you choose to accept, the specified airtime will be transferred from your account to the requestor’s account.
- Both you and the requestor will receive a confirmation notification that the transaction was successful.
How to Check Your Niokolee Balance
Once you’ve used the Niokolee service, you may want to check your remaining balance to ensure you’re not caught off-guard. You can check your Niokolee balance by:
- *Dialing 444# from your Safaricom line.
- Alternatively, you can send an SMS to 144. You will receive a message showing the remaining airtime and any associated balances.
Important Notes About Niokolee
- Niokolee airtime is not transferable. This means that once you receive airtime from a sponsor, you cannot share it with another person.
- Unused airtime will expire if not used within 24 hours, and it cannot be carried over to the next day.
- The Niokolee service is only available to customers within the Safaricom network, and the kredo can’t be used to make calls to numbers on other networks.
Final Thoughts
Safaricom’s Niokolee service is a helpful tool for staying connected, especially when you’re running low on airtime. Whether you’re the one requesting or sponsoring kredo, the service is easy to use and makes sure that you’re never completely cut off from your network. By following the simple steps outlined in this guide, you can make the most of the Niokolee service and stay in touch with friends, family, and colleagues.
For more information on Niokolee and other Safaricom services, you can visit Safaricom’s website or contact customer service for assistance by dialing 100 .
