Safaricom has lowered the maximum transaction fee for its Pochi La Biashara account to KES 50, down from the previous cap of KES 108. This change benefits merchants who receive payments through Pochi tills or directly from their Pochi wallets, ensuring fees no longer increase with transaction amounts.

Previously, traders receiving payments of KES 5,000 or more could lose over KES 100 in charges. With the new fee structure, the maximum deduction is halved, allowing merchants to retain more of their earnings.

Expanded Financial Services for Merchants

In addition to the fee reduction, Safaricom has enhanced Pochi La Biashara by integrating several financial tools aimed at supporting small businesses:

  • Taasi Pochi: Offers credit access based on a merchant's Pochi transaction history, similar to how Fuliza uses M-PESA data for credit scoring.
  • Tuunza Mapato: Provides insurance protection against interruptions in income.
  • Ziidi Pochi: Enables users to save and grow funds within the wallet.
  • Ofa ya Pochi: Delivers tailored data bundles to active users.

Improved Record-Keeping

Safaricom has addressed a major challenge faced by small traders by separating Pochi till payments from personal M-PESA transactions. This feature helps merchants maintain clearer financial records, making it easier to track earnings and support credit applications.

Accessing Pochi La Biashara

Customers can access Pochi La Biashara through the Lipa na Pochi option on the My OneApp or by dialing *334# via USSD. The USSD method remains the default for merchants without smartphones or stable internet connections.