MPESA subscribers on Tuesday continued to face inconveniences with the paybill function on a second day consecutively this week.
Yesterday, January 22, customers were unable to make payments using the paybill service, causing frustration among many across the country.
Services were later restored with Safaricom apologizing for the inconveniences caused.
However, early this morning, January 23, Safaricom issued a notice that the paybill service was experiencing challenges again, the second time this week.
Millions of Kenyans rely on the MPESA paybill feature to make various transactions, including buying electricity tokens.
Some users were left in the dark yesterday when they were unable to buy tokens. The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) issued a statement on social media linking the challenge to the MPESA paybill disruption.
KPLC asked customers to use alternative channels like Equitel, Airtel Money, and KCB Bank to buy electricity tokens.
Equity Bank has also stated that they are experiencing delays in the MPESA paybill services due to intermittent system downtime on the service provider’s end.
The bank has asked its customers to use the USSD code *247#, Equity Mobile App, Equity online, or Equitel to transfer funds and send money or buy tokens as Safaricom works on resolving its paybill issue.
How useful is MPESA paybill?
Safaricom’s paybill feature has millions of customers across the country. Individuals use it to make payments for various services and businesses rely on it to receive payments.
MPESA is a valuable innovation that has made mobile banking possible, with many banks and saccos relying on its services. Kenyans no longer have to visit a bank to withdraw or deposit money. They can easily transfer money from their bank accounts into their MPESA account and vice versa and pay bills.
When MPESA is down, millions are affected as the service has a bigger market share and better reach in the country than its competitors.
Safaricom usually gives a notice beforehand in case maintenance needs to be done on its MPESA service.
The unanticipated disruptions are causing an inconvenience for many as millions rely on the technology to make various transactions.
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