Updated 27 September 2026. Fees and rules below come from Safaricom's own pages; each one is linked with its "last updated" date.
Fuliza is an M-PESA overdraft, not a loan you apply for. When you send money, pay a till or paybill, or buy airtime and your balance is short, Fuliza covers the gap up to your limit.
Safaricom's Chief Financial Services Officer described it this way in 2019: "M-Shwari and KCB M-PESA are term loans. You take a loan and pay within 30 days. For Fuliza, it's an overdraft" (Safaricom newsroom, 6 March 2019).
Here's how that plays out. Otieno has KSh 700 on M-PESA and needs a KSh 1,200 electricity token, so the overdraft covers the KSh 500 gap.
He pays a KSh 5 access fee (1%), and the balance falls in the KSh 101 to 500 band, which costs KSh 3 a day. His salary lands two days later and clears the balance automatically. Total cost: about KSh 11, or KSh 5 if the 3-day free period described below applies.
This guide covers Fuliza's fees, how repayment works, what happens after 30 days, who lends the money, and how Fuliza compares with M-Shwari, KCB M-PESA and Tala. Need money today? Start at Money Now.
Who lends through Fuliza
The service runs on Safaricom's M-PESA, but banks provide the credit. The current Fuliza terms and conditions (last updated 1 July 2026) name the parties as you, Safaricom, KCB Bank Kenya Limited, NCBA Bank Kenya PLC and Sidian Bank Limited (clause 1.1).
Sidian is new. The overdraft went live on 5 January 2019 with "our partners KCB and CBA" (CBA later merged into NCBA), and Safaricom's 2022 fee announcement names only NCBA and KCB. Sidian first appears in the 1 July 2026 T&Cs. We found no announcement giving the date it joined.
Who can use Fuliza and how to opt in
According to the Fuliza product page (last updated 23 June 2025) and the T&Cs (clause 4.1), you need:
- An M-PESA account registered with a national ID, Kenyan passport or military ID. Foreign-passport accounts can't opt in.
- At least 6 months on the Safaricom network. Newer lines get a zero limit.
- To be 18 or older.
To opt in, dial *334#, choose Loans and Savings, then Fuliza, then Opt in. You can then use it for Send Money, Lipa na M-PESA (Buy Goods and Paybill) and airtime. The Fuliza FAQ (last updated 19 May 2025) adds that you can also withdraw cash at an M-PESA agent using Fuliza.
Fuliza fees in 2026
There are two charges. First, a one-off 1% access fee on the amount you use. Second, a daily maintenance fee that depends on your outstanding balance and is charged from midnight (00.00 hrs) the next day. The daily fee includes 20% excise duty, and Safaricom shows the split:
| Outstanding balance (KSh) | Daily fee | Excise (20%) | Total per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 100 | 0 | 0 | KSh 0 |
| 101 to 500 | 2.50 | 0.50 | KSh 3 |
| 501 to 1,000 | 5 | 1 | KSh 6 |
| 1,001 to 1,500 | 18 | 3.60 | KSh 21.60 |
| 1,501 to 2,500 | 20 | 4 | KSh 24 |
| 2,501 to 70,000 | 25 | 5 | KSh 30 |
Source: Safaricom Fuliza product page, last updated 23 June 2025, accessed 27 September 2026. Safaricom does not state excise on the 1% access fee separately. One gap to know about: the Fuliza terms and conditions (updated 1 July 2026, clause 2.17) define the "Interest" rate as 1.083% "or such other rate as may be approved and communicated", while the published tariff says 1%. The terms say the published tariff applies (clauses 17.1 and 17.7) and that Safaricom shows you the exact charge before you confirm each Fuliza (clause 17.6). Until Safaricom says otherwise, this guide uses the published 1%.
Three more rules matter:
- 3-day free period. Safaricom's September 2022 fee announcement and the FAQ (19 May 2025) say the daily fee is free for the first 3 days on balances of KSh 1,000 and below. The current tariff table on the product page doesn't show that waiver, so check the SMS Safaricom sends after each drawdown.
- KSh 30 cap. The T&Cs cap the daily fee at KSh 30 a day for each day the facility is unpaid during the facility term.
- 30 days' notice. Any increase in fees takes effect 30 days after Safaricom issues a notice (T&Cs clause 12.4).
For context, fees were higher before 1 October 2022. The tariff on the five paid bands was KSh 5, 10, 20, 25 and 30 a day; it is now KSh 2.50, 5, 18, 20 and 25 before excise. The 1% access fee didn't change. Excise at 20% on fees charged by financial institutions comes from the Excise Duty Act (consolidated 1 July 2025); our excise duty explainer covers how it applies to other loans.
What a Fuliza balance really costs
This table is our own calculation from Safaricom's tariff. It assumes the balance stays the same (no money comes in) and that the 3-day free period does not apply.
| Balance | Repaid same day | After 7 daily fees | After 30 daily fees | 30-day cost as % of balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSh 500 | KSh 5 | KSh 26 | KSh 95 | 19% |
| KSh 1,000 | KSh 10 | KSh 52 | KSh 190 | 19% |
| KSh 1,500 | KSh 15 | KSh 166.20 | KSh 663 | 44.2% |
| KSh 2,500 | KSh 25 | KSh 193 | KSh 745 | 29.8% |
| KSh 5,000 | KSh 50 | KSh 260 | KSh 950 | 19% |
| KSh 20,000 | KSh 200 | KSh 410 | KSh 1,100 | 5.5% |
Two things stand out. Balances between KSh 1,001 and 2,500 are the most expensive per shilling, because the fee jumps from KSh 6 to KSh 21.60 a day at KSh 1,001. And big balances are relatively cheap, because the daily fee stops rising at KSh 30. If the 3-day free period applies, a KSh 1,000 balance held for 7 days costs KSh 34 instead of KSh 52.
How Fuliza repayment works
You don't choose when to repay: "Any funds received or deposited in your M-PESA account will automatically be used to clear your outstanding Fuliza M-PESA" (FAQ, 19 May 2025). The T&Cs (clause 9.3) say Safaricom auto-debits incoming money until the facility is cleared, and clause 9.5 says that money goes to interest and fees first, then to the amount you borrowed.
The 30-day clock is the part people miss. The facility term ends at full repayment or 30 calendar days after your first drawdown, whichever comes first, and later drawdowns don't reset it (T&Cs clauses 2.13 and 6.8). Say Mary first uses Fuliza on 1 September and again on 20 September. Her deadline is still about 1 October, not 20 October, so the second drawdown gives her roughly 10 days, not 30.
What happens if you don't repay Fuliza in 30 days
Safaricom publishes no separate late-payment penalty. The consequences are these:
- You lose access. "You will not have access to your Fuliza M-PESA limit if you have any unpaid balance after day 30. This will however be restored on full repayment" (FAQ). T&Cs clause 7.3 also suspends the unused limit.
- Daily fees stop, the debt doesn't. The daily fee accrues only during the facility term (clause 2.14a).
- It becomes a default. A facility due and unpaid for 30 days or more is an event of default (clause 10.1). The whole balance becomes due. The lender can hold your money at KCB, NCBA or Sidian as collateral and set off the debt against savings such as M-Shwari and KCB M-PESA (clauses 11.2.3 to 11.2.4).
- CRB and collectors. Default is reported to credit reference bureaus, and a debt collection agency may be used (clauses 11.2.5 and 11.2.6). Safaricom does not publish how many days pass before a Fuliza default is listed.
That CRB step has history. In September 2022 Safaricom, NCBA and KCB announced a credit repair scheme to delist "over four million" M-Shwari and Fuliza defaulters (press release, 28 September 2022). If you're not sure where you stand, check your CRB status before you apply for any other credit.
Your Fuliza limit
Safaricom sets the limit from your line's activity and a credit score, reviews it every 3 months, and gives lines under 6 months a zero limit. It does not publish a minimum or a per-customer maximum; the top fee band ends at KSh 70,000. Our step-by-step guide covers how to increase your Fuliza limit using only what Safaricom says.
Fuliza vs M-Shwari vs KCB M-PESA
All three sit inside M-PESA, but only Fuliza is an overdraft. M-Shwari and KCB M-PESA are 30-day loans with a one-off fee. Here's the cost of KSh 5,000 on each (our calculation from the sources listed):
| Product | Price as published | KSh 5,000 for 7 days | KSh 5,000 for 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuliza | 1% access fee + KSh 30/day at this balance | KSh 260 | KSh 950 |
| M-Shwari | 7.5% fee + 1.5% excise = 9% | KSh 450 | KSh 450 |
| KCB M-PESA | 8.93% (Safaricom page) or 8.80% (KCB page) | KSh 446.50 or KSh 440 | KSh 446.50 or KSh 440 |
M-Shwari figures: Safaricom M-Shwari page, last updated 28 May 2024. KCB M-PESA: Safaricom (last updated 22 July 2025) and KCB (undated, read 27 September 2026); neither says whether excise is included. The 7-day column assumes the full loan fee applies even if you repay early.
On KSh 5,000, Fuliza is cheaper than M-Shwari up to 13 daily fees (KSh 440 against KSh 450) and dearer from the 14th. The full breakdown, including limits and default rules, is in Fuliza vs M-Shwari vs KCB M-PESA.
Fuliza vs Tala
Tala is a separate app, not part of M-PESA. Its lender is Inventure Mobile Limited (trading as Tala), a digital credit provider licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya on 30 January 2023 (CBK DCP directory, July 2026).
| Feature | Fuliza | Tala |
|---|---|---|
| Type | M-PESA overdraft | App loan (credit line) |
| Price | 1% access fee + KSh 0 to 30 a day | 0.3% to 0.6% a day (APR 109.5% to 219%); "No access charges" |
| Amount | Limit not published; fee bands end at KSh 70,000 | KSh 1,000 to 50,000 |
| Term | 30 days from first drawdown | Up to 120 days |
| Late payment | No separate fee; access suspended, default after 30 days | One-time late fee of 8% of the outstanding amount |
Tala figures: Tala on Google Play (updated 17 September 2026) and Tala FAQ, both read 27 September 2026.
What does that mean in shillings? On KSh 5,000, Tala's published daily rate works out to KSh 15 to 30 a day, so KSh 105 to 210 over 7 days and KSh 450 to 900 over 30 days. Fuliza costs KSh 260 and KSh 950 for the same periods.
On KSh 1,000, Tala's minimum, 30 days costs KSh 90 to 180 on Tala against KSh 190 on Fuliza. These are our calculations; they assume simple daily interest on the amount borrowed, and your actual Tala rate is set inside the published range.
So when does each fit? Take Wanjiru, a representative case. She's KSh 400 short at a Paybill on a Friday and gets paid Monday. Fuliza is the only option of the two: Tala doesn't lend below KSh 1,000, and the overdraft costs her KSh 4 plus KSh 3 a day.
But if she needs KSh 8,000 for school fees and can only repay over two months, Fuliza's 30-day term doesn't fit, while Tala's terms run up to 120 days.
What to do next
- Short today and not sure which product fits? Go to Money Now.
- Want a higher limit? Read how to increase your Fuliza limit.
- Comparing 30-day loans? See Fuliza vs M-Shwari vs KCB M-PESA.
- Worried about a default? Check your CRB status.
Sources
All sources accessed 27 September 2026. "Last updated" dates are the ones printed on each page.
- Safaricom, Fuliza M-PESA product page, last updated 23 June 2025: tariff, 1% access fee, 20% excise, eligibility, opt-in path, allowed uses.
- Safaricom, Fuliza M-PESA FAQ, last updated 19 May 2025: automatic repayment, access after day 30, agent withdrawals, 3-day free period, 3-month limit review.
- Safaricom, Fuliza M-PESA terms and conditions, last updated 1 July 2026: lenders (clause 1.1), facility term, KSh 30 cap, repayment order, default, CRB reporting, fee-change notice.
- Safaricom press release, "Safaricom, NCBA and KCB restructure Fuliza with free daily fees", 28 September 2022 (effective 1 October 2022): fee cut, previous tariff, 3-day free period, credit repair scheme.
- Safaricom newsroom, "Fuliza demystified", 6 March 2019: launch date, launch partners, overdraft vs term loan.
- Kenya Law, Excise Duty Act 2015, consolidated 1 July 2025: 20% excise on fees charged by financial institutions.
- Safaricom, M-Shwari page, last updated 28 May 2024: 7.5% fee + 1.5% excise = 9%.
- Safaricom, KCB M-PESA page, last updated 22 July 2025: 8.93% facility fee.
- KCB, KCB M-PESA loan page, undated (read 27 September 2026): 8.80% loan rate.
- Tala on Google Play, updated 17 September 2026, and Tala FAQ: daily interest, APR, amount, term, late fee.
- Central Bank of Kenya, Directory of Digital Credit Providers, July 2026: Tala licence date.