Kenyans can now receive money from friends and family in the United Kingdom directly to their M-PESA accounts.

This makes listed telecoms firm Safaricom the first company to offer a mobile based international money transfer service, whereby registered M-PESA customers can receive remittances directly onto their mobile phones.

The launch of the international component of M-PESA, the firm’s pioneering and globally-acclaimed money transfer service follows a successful pilot project with selected outlets in the UK.

Three Agents have been involved with conducting the pilots for over 3 months namely Western Union, Provident Capital Transfers and KenTv. A total of 19 outlets were carefully selected to cover areas with relatively high number of Kenyans living, including Reading, London, Luton, Wembley & Glasgow. They comprise a variety of shops including forex agents, news agents and grocery shops that are commonly visited by Kenyans and whom are registered with HM Revenue & Customs in the UK as Money Services Businesses.

To send money using M-PESA, the sender in UK will be required to identify themselves and furnish the agent with the recipient’s name, Kenyan mobile number and the amount being sent in Sterling Pounds.  Exchange rate conversion to Kenya Shillings is done at the prevailing rate and the agent will proceed to send the Kenya Shillings direct to the recipients M-PESA account. There is no registration fee to either party for using M-PESA’s international service.  The sender will pay a competitive transaction fee ranging from £4 – £6.90, depending on the amount sent and the outlet at which they are transacting. For example, you can send up to £150 for as little as £4; this transaction fee is shared between Safaricom and the Agent.

A major benefit to users of remitting money to Kenya direct to a customer’s M-PESA account is in the convenience to the recipient of collecting their money. Registered M-PESA customers are able to withdraw cash affordably at their convenience at over 12,000 M-PESA Agents countrywide. They are also able to use M-PESA to pay bills, purchase airtime and to perform local money transfers.

Convenience is also provided to the senders, who will be able to transact at their local forex agent, hair salon, news-agent or grocery shop, thereby giving them a wider selection of outlets from which to remit money to Kenya. Following authorization by the Central Bank of Kenya, Safaricom shall be increasing the locations in the UK from which money can be sent to M-PESA customers as well as launching services across other popular remittance corridors.

Currently, the maximum amount that can be sent internationally per transaction through M-PESA is £ 250 (approx KShs 30,000) while the total allowable per month from a single sender in the UK is £ 1,000. Normal transaction limits and charges apply to the M-PESA account in Kenya, including a maximum balance of KShs 50,000.

Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph said: “We wish to invite Kenyans living in the UK to take advantage of this service, which presents a real innovation on our M-PESA menu. Through strategic partnerships with Western Union, Provident Capital and KenTV we are giving them an opportunity to convert across two currencies into M-PESA and send money affordably without any hidden costs – directly to the mobile phone of the recipient.”

The launch presents new ground by Safaricom as the listed firm consolidates its credentials as a total telecoms operator. With M-PESA, Safaricom in partnership with Vodafone pioneered mobile money transfer, triggering the launch of similar products in several countries.

The UK has one of the highest populations of Kenyans living outside the country. This community is also a major source of remittances back to the country.

About M-PESA: Launched in partnership with Vodafone in March 2007, Safaricom’s award-winning M-PESA mobile money transfer product serves a growing clientele of over 7.5 million subscribers through an agency network of over 12,000 outlets. It has handled over Sh230 billion in person-to-person transfers since launch.

More information on International Money Transfer with M-PESA can be found on the Safaricom website www.safaricom.co.ke