If you need to send money to family, friends or suppliers in Kenya, a Safaricom M-Pesa wallet is one of the most widely used ways for them to receive it. With Coinepay Global Remittance you can start the transfer from the app or dashboard, see the exchange rate and fees before you confirm, and have the funds delivered straight to the recipient's registered M-Pesa number. This guide walks through exactly what you need and how the process works.
Where M-Pesa works and which currency it uses
These instructions cover sending to a Safaricom M-Pesa wallet in Kenya. M-Pesa is also offered in other countries, but destinations, rules and recipient details differ there, so make sure your recipient holds a Kenyan Safaricom M-Pesa account before you begin.
Under Safaricom's M-Pesa Global terms, transactions are denominated in Kenyan shillings (KES). Your recipient receives value in shillings. When you set up the transfer in Coinepay, the app shows you the converted amount, the exchange rate and the fees for your corridor before you confirm, so you always see what the recipient will get.
What you need from the recipient
To send into a Kenyan M-Pesa wallet, collect these details first:
- The recipient's registered M-Pesa mobile number. This must be the phone number registered to their M-Pesa account on the Safaricom network. Do not use a PayBill or till number for a personal wallet transfer.
- The recipient's full name, exactly as registered with M-Pesa. Name and number should match the account; mismatches are a common reason a transfer is held or returned.
On the number format: Kenyan numbers appear in forms such as 07… and 2547…, and some systems expect a 12-digit 254… number without a plus sign (for example 254705912645). The exact format Coinepay accepts is shown on the transfer form itself, so follow the on-screen field rather than adding +254 or a leading zero by guesswork. If you are unsure, check how the number is written and confirm it with the recipient.
Before you start: register and verify
You need a Coinepay account and completed identity verification (KYC) before you can send. If you have not signed up yet, create your account and finish verification, then download the app from the App Store or Google Play. All cross-border transfers are subject to identity verification, sanctions screening and local regulations, and Coinepay may ask for supporting documents such as the purpose or source of funds. Coinepay sends to every country and region except those under comprehensive sanctions and screens customers and counterparties against sanctions lists.
Step by step: send to an M-Pesa wallet
- Open Coinepay Global Remittance. In the app or the 24/7 self-service dashboard, start a new transfer.
- Choose Kenya as the destination. Select the country and then the M-Pesa mobile wallet payout method from the available local options.
- Enter the recipient details. Type the registered M-Pesa mobile number in the format the form requests and the recipient's full name exactly as registered.
- Enter the amount. You can usually enter either the amount you want to send or the amount you want the recipient to receive in KES.
- Review the exchange rate and fees. Coinepay shows the rate, the fees and the amount the recipient will receive before you commit. Check these figures carefully.
- Provide any requested information. If prompted, add the purpose of the transfer or source-of-funds details so compliance checks can proceed smoothly.
- Confirm. Once you are happy with the details and the quote, confirm the transfer.
Tracking the transfer
Every Coinepay transfer has status tracking. After you confirm, follow the progress in the app or dashboard from submission through to delivery. If anything needs your attention—for example an additional document—you will be notified there. You can also reach the team through Coinepay support or Telegram if you have a question about a specific transfer.
How the recipient sees the money arrive
A supported remittance route delivers the funds to the recipient's registered number. They receive value in their M-Pesa account and can then use the wallet's available services as usual. Ask them to check their M-Pesa balance and transaction messages once your Coinepay tracking shows the transfer as completed.
Wallet limits and registration in Kenya
Kenyan mobile money is regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya under the National Payment System Act. The following official limits apply to M-Pesa wallets in Kenya:
| Limit | Amount (KES) |
|---|---|
| Per-transaction mobile-money limit | 250,000 |
| Maximum wallet balance | 500,000 |
| Daily transaction limit (Safaricom) | 500,000 |
A remittance route or provider can apply its own lower limit on top of these, so your actual sending limit is what Coinepay shows at the time. To receive funds from abroad, the recipient must be a registered M-Pesa customer; registration is done at a Safaricom shop or M-Pesa agent with an identification document.
Troubleshooting
Wrong number entered
Always verify the displayed recipient details before you confirm. For an erroneous domestic Safaricom M-Pesa transfer, Safaricom documents sending the transaction confirmation to 456 to request a reversal, but that process does not confirm or guarantee the reversal of an international transfer. If you sent to the wrong number through Coinepay, contact Coinepay support promptly with your transfer reference.
Name does not match the number
If the recipient's name does not match the account registered to the number, the transfer may be held or returned. Confirm the full name exactly as it appears on their M-Pesa registration and correct it before resending.
Unregistered number
Since 5 February 2024, transfers to people who are not registered for mobile money on the Safaricom, Airtel or Telkom networks fail, and the old agent-redeemable voucher method has ended. Make sure your recipient has an active, registered M-Pesa account before you send.
Wallet limit reached
If the transfer would push the recipient over the per-transaction, daily or maximum-balance limit, it may not go through. Ask the recipient to check their available headroom, or adjust the amount.
Suspended account or system delay
Safaricom's terms list insufficient funds, exceeded limits, a suspended account and temporary system delays or outages as reasons a transaction may not proceed; a remittance partner may also have its own eligibility, availability or operating-hour restrictions. If delivery is delayed, follow the status in your Coinepay tracking.
Compliance review
Transfers are subject to identity verification, sanctions screening and local regulations. If your transfer is under review, respond quickly to any request for documents such as the purpose or source of funds. Never try to split a transfer, use a third party or otherwise work around these checks—doing so can cause the transfer to fail.
A note on fees and timing
There is no single fixed fee, rate or delivery time for all international sends into M-Pesa; they depend on your corridor and are shown in your Coinepay quote. Do not assume Safaricom's domestic Send Money tariff applies to a cross-border remittance. Always rely on the figures Coinepay displays before you confirm.
Ready to send? Open the Coinepay app or your dashboard, choose Kenya and M-Pesa, and follow the steps above.
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FAQ
What details do I need to send money to an M-Pesa wallet?
You need the recipient's registered M-Pesa mobile number on the Safaricom network and their full name exactly as registered with M-Pesa. Enter the number in the format shown on the Coinepay transfer form, without guessing at a leading zero or plus sign.
Which currency will the recipient receive?
M-Pesa Global transactions are denominated in Kenyan shillings (KES), so the recipient receives value in shillings. Coinepay shows the exchange rate, fees and the amount they will receive before you confirm.
Can I send to someone who is not registered for M-Pesa?
No. Since 5 February 2024, transfers to people not registered for mobile money on the Safaricom, Airtel or Telkom networks fail. The recipient must have an active, registered M-Pesa account, which they can set up at a Safaricom shop or agent with an ID document.
What are the M-Pesa wallet limits in Kenya?
The Central Bank of Kenya set a KES 250,000 per-transaction limit and a KES 500,000 maximum wallet balance, and Safaricom states a KES 500,000 daily transaction limit. A remittance route may apply a lower limit, so rely on what Coinepay shows for your transfer.
What should I do if I sent to the wrong number?
Verify details before confirming. If you still sent to the wrong number, contact Coinepay support promptly with your transfer reference. A reversal of an international transfer is not guaranteed, so act quickly.
