On January 9, Safaricom, Kenya's leading telecommunications company, faced a wave of frustration from users as nationwide MPESA delays caused inconvenience and disruptions to daily activities.
Safaricom addresses nationwide MPESA delays
Kenya's leading telecommunications company Safaricom forced to explain reasons behind the nationwide MPESA delays following numerous complaints raised by customers on X
Safaricom Chief Executive officer (CEO) Peter Ndegwa
Recommended articles
Kenyans took to social media platforms, particularly X to express their grievances and seek explanations for the unexpected service interruptions.
Safaricom customers' frustrations & complaints
Numerous users reported experiencing delays and difficulties with MPESA transactions.
ADVERTISEMENT
Some encountered messages indicating that "Mpesa is currently undergoing maintenance," while others received cryptic messages like "the parameters of data source are null null."
Safaricom addresses nationwide MPESA delays
Pulse Live Kenya
These issues left users puzzled and concerned, especially given the critical role MPESA plays in facilitating cashless transactions, bill payments, and various financial activities.
Impact of MPESA delay on daily activities
As Kenya has been actively promoting cashless transactions, many individuals and businesses have adopted MPESA as a convenient and essential tool for financial interactions.
ADVERTISEMENT
The sudden delays had a domino effect on users who rely on the service for business operations, bill settlements, and even daily commuting.
Some users voiced their frustration about being stranded as they use MPESA to pay for bus fare, emphasizing the significant impact on their ability to carry out routine tasks.
Safaricom addresses nationwide MPESA delays
Pulse Live Kenya
Kenyans bash Safaricom for delayed MPESA services
Frustrated users took to Twitter, tagging Safaricom in their posts to express their discontent and seek clarification on the ongoing issues.
ADVERTISEMENT
@Miss_Khaimia how is someone supposed to transact if both USSD and the app are down and the tool kit stopped working??
@robertkmutai Dear customer, M-PESA is currently undergoing maintenance and is unable to process your request. We apologize for the inconvenience. What's not happening? I need to pay bills and travel. We no longer carry cash. Please assist.
@MissGordons1 M pesa wants to make me look like a thief jameni @SafaricomPLC why is MPesa not working and without a warning?
Safaricom's response after delayed MPESA services
In response to the mounting concerns, Safaricom acknowledged the widespread MPESA delays and offered calm responses to individual queries on X.
ADVERTISEMENT
Safaricom refutes dominance claims by Airtel, says the market is big enough for healthy competition
Safaricom refutes dominance claims by Airtel, says the market is big enough for healthy competition
BI Africa
The company explained that there was a technical issue affecting MPESA and assured users that the resolution was in progress.
Safaricom expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused and requested users' patience as they worked to restore normalcy to the service.
"We are experiencing challenges on MPESA that we are working on. Once this is done, you will be updated. Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience," Safaricom responded.
Lessons learned & moving forward
ADVERTISEMENT
The nationwide MPESA delays serve as a reminder of the significant role mobile money platforms play in the lives of Kenyans.
Safaricom's latest earnings report show H1 profit jumping 12.1% to $330.7 million
Safaricom's latest earnings report show H1 profit jumping 12.1% to $330.7 million
BI Africa
As the country continues to embrace digital financial solutions, service providers like Safaricom must prioritise the robustness and resilience of their systems to prevent widespread disruptions.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: news@pulselive.co.ke
Next story
