Safaricom Introduces Way for M-Pesa Users to Verify Sender Details Despite Partially Hidden Numbers

Safaricom has rolled out a new privacy feature on M-Pesa, effective March 24, 2026, which partially masks the sender’s phone number during transactions. This change is aimed at enhancing user privacy and reducing fraud by hiding the middle three digits of the sender’s number. Recipients will still see the sender’s first and last names, transaction amount, reference number, and date, but the phone number will appear in a format like 0705***734. To verify the full sender details, users can forward the M-Pesa confirmation message to the USSD code 334 within 24 hours. This feature applies to person-to-person transfers, which handle about 37 million daily transactions worth KSh 27 billion, as well as Paybill and Buy Goods messages for small businesses. Safaricom introduced this update following approval from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to align with the Data Protection Act of 2019. Users, especially business operators, had raised concerns over discrepancies in transaction amounts, which previously were easier to resolve because the full sender information was visible. This privacy improvement is considered one of Safaricom’s most significant M-Pesa updates since its launch in 2007. Additionally, the Kenyan High Court has ruled that dormant phone lines cannot be sold without prior consent, reinforcing users’ digital rights.