In 2026 M-Pesa remains the backbone of daily money movement in Kenya, processing billions in transactions every month. Those small charges quietly pile up. A KSh 27 transfer here, a KSh 105 withdrawal there, and many people lose KSh 3,000 to KSh 6,000 monthly without realising it. The encouraging part is that several underused features in the M-PESA Super App, Pochi la Biashara, and bank integrations can cut those costs significantly.
Here are seven practical tricks that most Kenyans have not yet adopted. When used together they can save anywhere from KSh 2,000 to KSh 5,000 each month for moderate to heavy users such as boda operators, small traders, salaried workers, or families sending money regularly. All details reflect current Safaricom tariffs and real user experiences in 2026.
1. Switch to Buy Goods (Till Numbers) Instead of PayBill or Send Money for Merchant Payments
Many people still pay shops, fuel stations, supermarkets, or even roadside vendors using PayBill or direct Send Money. Those methods carry fees ranging from KSh 10 to over KSh 100 per transaction. Buy Goods through Lipa na M-Pesa Till is free for the payer in nearly every case.
Consider a realistic example. If you spend KSh 50,000 monthly on groceries, fuel, airtime top-ups, and utility bills using PayBill or Send Money, you might pay KSh 500 to KSh 1,500 in fees. Moving those payments to Till numbers drops that cost to zero.
To make the switch, always ask for the merchant's Till number instead of a PayBill number. In the Super App you find it under Lipa na M-Pesa then Buy Goods. Major chains like Naivas, Quickmart, and smaller vendors have adopted Till because settlements are instant and protected from reversals.
Encouraging customers to use Till is also smart for business owners since it keeps funds digital and reduces reversal risks.
2. Withdraw Larger Amounts Less Often from Agents or Move Funds to Bank Accounts
Agent withdrawals remain one of the largest hidden costs. Fees range from KSh 50 to KSh 309 depending on the amount, and frequent small withdrawals multiply the expense. Withdrawing KSh 10,000 five times in a month costs much more than one withdrawal of KSh 50,000.
A better approach is to consolidate cash needs and withdraw larger sums less frequently. Even stronger savings come from using the Send to Bank feature to transfer funds directly to linked accounts at KCB, Equity, Co-operative Bank, or others. Many banks now charge zero or very low fees for M-Pesa transfers above certain thresholds.
For users who withdraw cash often this change can save KSh 800 to KSh 2,000 monthly simply by reducing agent visits from eight or ten down to two or three.
Beyond money, it saves time spent queuing at agents, especially in busy Nairobi neighbourhoods.
3. Use Pochi la Biashara to Keep Business Funds Separate
If you run a side hustle, boda boda, kibanda, or mitumba stall, register for Pochi la Biashara through *334#. This creates a dedicated business wallet. Money received into Pochi cannot be reversed by the sender, and it helps prevent mixing business float with personal spending.
The savings come from avoiding double fees when you accidentally use business money for personal needs and then transfer it back. Many small traders report saving KSh 1,000 or more each month just by keeping funds separated.
Steady use of Pochi also improves eligibility for higher Fuliza Biashara or Taasi limits, giving better emergency access without turning to expensive informal loans.
4. Automate Savings into M-Shwari Lock or Partner Funds Inside the Super App
Leaving idle money in your regular M-Pesa balance earns nothing. Moving portions to M-Shwari Lock Savings or money-market options available in the Super App can earn 6 to 10 percent annually in 2026 while building discipline.
Set up automatic transfers for recurring savings, similar to how people already use M-PESA Ratiba for bill payments. Locking even KSh 5,000 monthly at 8 percent generates modest interest, but the bigger benefit is preventing impulse spending that leads to extra transactions and fees later.
People who automate KSh 10,000 monthly into locked savings often discover they have KSh 1,500 to KSh 3,000 extra at the end of the month because unnecessary small transfers disappear.
5. Use Fuliza Biashara or Taasi Strategically Instead of Habitually
Fuliza provides convenience but daily use accumulates interest charges. The upgraded Fuliza Biashara for Till and Pochi users offers higher limits, sometimes up to KSh 400,000, with repayment terms tailored to business cash flow.
The clever way is to use it only when it prevents bigger losses, such as completing a Till payment when short on funds to avoid missing a sale. Repay quickly from incoming money to minimise interest.
Business owners who apply this approach save KSh 1,000 to KSh 2,500 monthly compared with alternatives like agent withdrawals or chama borrowing.
6. Batch Small Transfers into Fewer Larger Ones
M-Pesa tariffs are banded so sending five separate KSh 2,000 amounts costs more than one KSh 10,000 transfer in the same fee tier.
For families this means sending weekly or monthly bulk amounts to students, relatives upcountry, or chama groups instead of daily small drips. The difference can save KSh 200 to KSh 800 monthly on transfer fees alone.
The same logic applies to group contributions or pocket-money sends.
7. Regularly Review Statements and Use Free Super App Tools
Balance enquiries, PIN resets, and reversal requests (within allowed windows) are free through the Super App. Checking statements weekly helps catch duplicate payments, errors, or forgotten transactions. Reversing them recovers the full amount and avoids follow-up fees.
The 2026 Super App includes expanded bill-splitting features that reduce scenarios where one person pays for a group and then chases reimbursements through multiple fee-charging sends.
Putting it together
Using Till instead of PayBill can save KSh 500 to KSh 1,500 monthly. Fewer larger withdrawals and bank transfers can save KSh 800 to KSh 2,000. Separating funds with Pochi plus automated savings can add KSh 1,000 to KSh 2,500.
For a typical household or small business owner combining several of these habits, KSh 2,000 to KSh 5,000 in monthly savings becomes realistic.
The M-PESA Super App continues to roll out improvements, including new zero-fee options. Check *334# or the app regularly for updates. Small consistent changes made now can add up to meaningful money kept in your pocket by the end of 2026.
Which of these tricks have you already started using? Share your own experience in the comments. Helping each other keep more of our hard-earned cash is how we all win.
