Safaricom Launches ‘Fuliza Ya Pochi’ Overdraft to Bridge Working Capital Gaps for Micro-Merchants

October 27, 2026 Majira Media

Telecommunications giant Safaricom has officially expanded its M-PESA credit ecosystem with the launch of Fuliza Ya Pochi, an overdraft facility specifically tailored for micro-merchants using the Pochi La Biashara service.

The new credit product is designed to cushion small and informal business owners from sudden liquidity shortages, enabling them to complete essential commercial transactions even when their Pochi wallets lack sufficient funds.

Bridging Daily Working Capital Gaps

With over two million small business owners currently using Pochi La Biashara to receive and separate business revenues from personal funds, liquidity hiccups often result in lost sales or delayed stock replenishment.

Under the new facility, eligible merchants can leverage their assigned overdraft limits to complete critical transactions, including:

Paying suppliers via Buy Goods Tills.
Sending funds directly to mobile numbers/customers.
Paying utility bills and settling business expense Till numbers (Paybill).

Speaking during the launch, Safaricom Group CEO Peter Ndegwa emphasized the company’s commitment to enabling micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to maintain operational continuity.

“Across Kenya, thousands of micro-businesses face daily cash flow gaps that can mean missed sales, delayed stock purchases, or postponed supplier payments,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom Group. “Fuliza Ya Pochi helps merchants overcome these short-term challenges while continuing to build their businesses. As merchants transact and grow on M-PESA, they create a pathway to greater financial opportunities.”

Eligibility Criteria and Key Features

To qualify for the overdraft facility, merchants must meet baseline operational requirements:

Active Usage: Merchants must have used the Pochi La Biashara product actively for more than six months.
Dynamic Credit Limits: Credit limits are assigned based on individual business activity and transaction volumes over time.
Repayment Structure: Overdraft repayments are automatically deducted from incoming customer payments made to the merchant’s Pochi La Biashara wallet.
48-Hour Grace Period: The facility offers a 48-hour interest-free period before daily maintenance fees kick in. Disbursements incur a 1% access fee, with repayments structured within a 30-day window.

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How Merchants Can Opt In

Safaricom has integrated the feature into existing digital channels. Merchants can activate the overdraft facility via USSD or the My Safaricom app:

Dial *334# from the registered Pochi La Biashara line.
Select Option 8 (Pochi La Biashara).
Select Option 4 (Pochi Fuliza).
Choose Join Now and accept the Terms & Conditions.
Enter the M-PESA PIN to confirm activation and view the assigned credit limit.

Alternatively, merchants can opt in directly through the Pochi Mini App on My OneApp.

Expanding Credit Access in Kenya’s Digital Economy

The introduction of Fuliza Ya Pochi expands Safaricom’s credit product lineup, following the success of the consumer-facing Fuliza (launched in 2019) and Fuliza Ya Biashara (targeting formal Till number operators).

The rollout follows recent promotional relief measures by Safaricom for Pochi La Biashara users—including zero transaction fees on customer payments under Ksh200 and a 50% discount on payments above Ksh200 (capped at Ksh50)—reflecting an ongoing push to deepen financial inclusion and empower Kenya’s vibrant informal trade sector.