- Kenya’s second-largest mobile service provider Airtel has partnered with Kenya Power (KPLC) to allow Kenyans to pay their electricity bills via their mobile money platform at no cost.
- Airtel Money Managing Director Anne-Kinuthia Otieno said this is one of Airtel Money’s initiatives to help cushion Kenyans during these tough economic times and will benefit both the postpaid and prepaid Kenya Power customers over the next six months.
- Under the deal, Kenyan Airtel customers can pay their electricity bills by dialling the USSD code *334#, choosing Airtel Paybill, and then KPLC.
Airtel-KLPC partnership
Airtel, Kenya’s second-largest mobile service provider, has partnered with Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC). This partnership will allow Kenyans to pay their electricity bills through their mobile money platform at no cost.
Airtel Money Managing Director Anne-Kinuthia Otieno said the initiative would cushion Kenyans during these tough economic times. Over the next six months, the initiative will benefit postpaid and prepaid Kenya Power customers.
“We are now glad to offer Kenyans this solution where they will enjoy zero transaction fees for the next six months when making electricity payments. The cost saving on the charge per transaction will enable customers to utilize their money for other purchases,” she said.
Under the new deal, Kenyan Airtel customers can pay their electricity bills by dialling the USSD code *334#, choosing Airtel Paybill, and then KPLC.
“We are happy to have Airtel onboard as one of our revenue collection agencies for our postpaid and prepaid customers. This strategic partnership offers our valued customers a seamless payment channel, ensuring enhanced convenience and satisfaction. After six months of free transaction fees, customers will still settle their electricity bills at an affordable cost. This aligns with Airtel’s proposition to provide highly affordable services to its customers,” Kenya Power Managing Director Joseph Siror said.
Read more: Airtel boosts land bills payment in partnership with lands ministry
Mobile subscriptions in Kenya
Safaricom currently controls 66 per cent of Kenya’s mobile subscriptions. Airtel has 26.3 per cent, Telkom 4.9 per cent, while Finserve (Equitel) has 2.3 per cent. M-Pesa dominates the mobile money market with a 96.8 per cent share. Airtel Money and T-Cash by Telkom have a meagre share of 3.1 per cent and 0.1 per cent, respectively.
Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) data reveals that 60.7 million mobile phone devices were connected to mobile networks as of September 30, 2022. Of these, 32.9 million were feature phones, while 27.9 million were smartphones. The penetration rates for feature phones and smartphones as a percentage of the total population were 66.5 and 56.4 per cent, respectively.
Mobile money gained popularity among businesses and public institutions simultaneously, with the number of subscriptions during the review period to 37.4 million, from 37.2 million reported during the previous year. This represented a penetration level of 75.7 per cent.
Airtel’s efforts to increase its customer base
Airtel Money plans to attract partnerships with strategic stakeholders to offer Kenyans pocket-friendly and convenient mobile money services. Airtel Money has other unique benefits. They include sending money between Airtel to Airtel network for free, 25 per cent extra airtime or data purchased through Airtel Money, and up to 40 per cent savings on withdrawal charges at any Airtel Money agent.
