M-Pesa is widely used in Kenya for sending and receiving money, but many people are complaining about the high charges, especially when dealing with small amounts.
For example, if someone sends Ksh105 through M-Pesa, they are charged Ksh7. Then, if the person receiving the money wants to withdraw it, they are charged Ksh29.
This means that out of Ksh105, Ksh36 is spent just on fees. That’s more than a third of the total amount, which makes it very expensive for those who don’t earn much. People are saying that these charges are too high and feel like a punishment.
For someone earning the minimum wage in Kenya, which is around Ksh15,000 per month, losing Ksh36 on a small transaction can make a big difference. This kind of pricing makes it hard for low-income users to fully benefit from mobile money services.
Many people use M-Pesa for daily needs like transport, food, or small purchases, so paying such high fees each time can quickly add up and reduce the little money they have.
There are other mobile money services like Airtel Money and Equitel that charge much less, and sometimes even offer free transfers. Some banks also let customers send money to M-Pesa for free.
But even with these options, many people still use M-Pesa because it has agents almost everywhere, making it more convenient, especially in rural areas. This convenience keeps people using the service, even if it’s more expensive.
Many users online have spoken about their frustration with M-Pesa’s charges. Some feel like Safaricom, the company behind M-Pesa, is taking advantage of its position since most people use the platform.
Others have called for the government to step in and put a limit on how much companies can charge for mobile money transactions. Some have even said that the fees are used for things like government surveillance instead of improving services for users.
There’s growing demand for fairer prices and better options for mobile money users. If nothing changes, more people may switch to cheaper alternatives. But for now, many feel stuck because M-Pesa is still the easiest to use.
The debate continues, and people are waiting to see if Safaricom will respond by lowering the charges or if the government will take action to protect users from what many believe are unfair fees.
Add Comment