It is sickening for almost every Kenyan to imagine that they cannot enjoy their hard-earned money without MPESA getting away with a portion.
For years, Kenyans have trusted MPESA as their daily lifeline. From the mama mboga who receives Sh200 for sukuma wiki, to the taxi driver paid through mobile money, to the banker moving funds from account to account.
Yet, the convenience comes with what many now call daylight robbery. The exorbitant charges that bleed wallets dry with every transaction.
When you send Sh500, a chunk is gone. Withdraw Sh1000, another bite. Pay bills, buy goods, move money to the bank. Every tap is a fee. Small business owners complain that by the end of the week, Safaricom has eaten into their profits more than they dare calculate.
For mama mboga, the impact is even more painful. A customer pays Sh100 for vegetables, but to get her money in cash, she must surrender part of it to MPESA. It is a tax on the poor. One that has become normalized because alternatives are scarce.
Safaricom PLC under CEO Peter Ndegwa continues to announce billions in annual profits. Much of it from MPESA. But behind those numbers lies the collective frustration of millions who feel trapped.
Despite government lip service about competition and digital financial inclusion, MPESA’s dominance remains unchallenged. Other providers exist, but none with the same reach. This leaves Kenyans with little choice but to stomach the charges.
As if the fees were not enough, endless tales of fraud haunt MPESA users. From fake SMS messages to insiders allegedly linked to criminal syndicates, Kenyans lose millions each month to cons.
Cases of money disappearing from accounts are common, yet resolution takes ages if it comes at all. Many victims give up entirely after being tossed between Safaricom shops, police stations and customer care lines that never provide answers.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa. Photo: The Star Source: Facebook
For a service that was once celebrated as Africa’s revolutionary innovation, MPESA has turned into a burden. Kenyans feel suffocated by a system that thrives on their lack of options.
The cries are getting louder. Why should Safaricom continue draining Kenyans with such ruthless charges. Why should the poor pay more while the company boasts of record-breaking profits every year.
Until a real alternative emerges, Kenyans will remain in chains. Forced to use a system that feeds on their daily struggles. And unless Safaricom and CEO Peter Ndegwa listen to the pain of ordinary citizens, MPESA risks losing the trust that once made it the pride of Kenya.