Airtel Money has introduced Bizna Wallet, a digital business wallet tailored for Kenya's informal sector, including kiosk owners, mobile money agents, and small traders. The new product aims to rival Safaricom’s Pochi La Biashara, a leading payment solution within the M-Pesa ecosystem.
Features of Bizna Wallet
- Separates business income from personal funds, helping merchants track profits more effectively.
- Allows customers to pay into the wallet without transaction fees.
- Protects merchants against unauthorized payment reversals, a common fraud issue.
- Supports payments from multiple mobile networks, enabling cross-network transactions.
- Registration is available via the My Airtel app or by dialing *334# and selecting the Bizna Wallet option.
Additionally, Airtel has enhanced its Rudishiwa cashback program, offering 50% cashback on qualifying transactions above KES 101, including bill payments and bank transfers.
Safaricom’s Established Lead with Pochi La Biashara
Launched in 2020, Pochi La Biashara has amassed a large user base of 2.1 million merchants by March 2026. The platform similarly helps traders keep business and personal finances separate without requiring full till numbers.
To maintain its dominance, Safaricom recently revised its tariffs, making transactions under KES 200 free and capping fees on transfers between KES 2,501 and KES 250,000 at KES 50 until October 31, 2026.
Impact on Kenya’s Small Businesses
The competition between Airtel and Safaricom is driving down digital payment costs for small traders. Airtel’s zero-fee payments and cashback incentives challenge Safaricom’s market lead, while Safaricom counters with tariff reductions and its extensive merchant network.
Ultimately, small business owners stand to benefit from lower transaction costs and improved payment options. However, the sustainability of these discounts remains uncertain once promotional periods end, setting the stage for a strategic battle over Kenya’s micro-merchant payment market.
