Safaricom extends M-PESA to supermarkets

SOURCE: Safaricom

Shoppers to pay for their goods through the M-PESA service

Nairobi: In a milestone that is set to re-define the shopping experience, Kenyans can now pay for their goods at supermarkets using the M-PESA service.

Dubbed Nunua na M-PESA, the new service can be enjoyed by over 12 million M-PESA customers and is initially available at all Uchumi and Naivas Supermarket outlets across the country. This follows the signing of partnership agreements between leading telecommunications firm Safaricom and the Uchumi and Naivas Supermarkets.

While speaking at the launch ceremony held at an Uchumi outlet, Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph said the company was leading the way towards a cash-less society where most payments will be made via the telephone or online, hence reducing the risks involved in carrying cash.

“I am extremely excited to be launching Nunua na M-PESA service allowing cashless payments at-the-till for people without a bank account. It resonates with our company‟s commitment to lead the way in innovations that provide convenience and security to our subscribers,” said Joseph. “Following positive feedback from customers who participated in a pilot, as well as the Central Banks go-ahead to roll-out, we shall now proceed with expanding the merchants that will accept Nanua na M-PESA”.

Joseph said Safaricom will continue partnering with organizations to expand the variety of payments that can be made using M-PESA with the aim of providing increased convenience to Kenyans while at the same time maximizing their mobile phone usage.

“This is yet another effort by Safaricom and partners to deepen online and cash-less payment solution in Kenya. It resonates with our company‟s commitment to lead the way in innovations that improve the living standards of our subscribers, in line with M-PESA‟s „Bigger Than Cash‟ aspirations,” said Mr Joseph.

HOW NUNUA NA M-PESA WORKS:

To enjoy the service, customers will need to show an accepted identification document and follow these simple steps on their M-PESA menu:

1. Select „Buy Goods‟

2. Enter the „Till Number‟ of the organization they are paying (as displayed)

3. Enter the amount they wish to pay (Between Sh100-35,000)

4. Enter the M-PESA PIN number, confirm their entry and then press OK.

Upon payment, both the customer and the supermarket sales assistant will receive a confirmation SMS from M-PESA. The sales assistant will then complete the transaction and issue the customer with his sales receipt as normal – indicating the amount paid by M-PESA.

Currently there is no charge to use the Nunua na M-PESA service; however Safaricom may at a later stage introduce a nominal fee. Payments of between KShs 100 and 35,000 per transaction can be made

Since launch in March 2007, M-PESA has evolved beyond money transfer into a total mobile commerce solution. Towards this end, Safaricom has partnered with various utility providers cutting across various sectors of the economy.

Notes to the Editor

About M-PESA…The M-PESA service, the first of its kind in the world, was launched in March 2007. As at 30th August, 2010, the service had over 12.6 million customers and 20,000 Agent outlets countrywide. The service does not require users to have a bank account; an important aspect in Kenya, where millions of people do not operate bank accounts. With M-PESA, account holders can buy electronic funds at an M-PESA agent and send the electronic value to any other mobile phone user in the country, who can then redeem it for conventional cash at any M-PESA agent. M-PESA customers can hold up to KShs50,000 in their M-PESA account at any one time, and can do transactions of up to KShs 70,000 in a day. Between KShs100 and KShs35,000 can be deposited, sent or withdrawn per transaction.

About Uchumi Supermarket…Uchumi is a public limited company incorporated in 1975. Its main objective is to have an enterprise for equitable distribution of essential commodities, affordable prices whilst creating an outlet for the local manufacturers. The first three Uchumi branches were opened in 1976 with the Market Branch marking the first Milestone. Uchumi became a trendsetter in low pricing to the advantage of all consumers, while at the same time maintaining high standards in quality of goods and services.

In the 1990′s Uchumi spearheaded the hypermarket concept in Kenya. The introduction of the hypermarket concept and specialty shops has been a runaway success. Uchumi places inordinate emphasis on the value of continuous training and concern with staff-customer relations. The key ingredients of Uchumi’s runaway success was a keen focus on the buying culture of Kenyan shoppers, close working relations with suppliers and good management-staff relations. Uchumi has avoided concentrating on imported foodstuffs and other foreign products that are locally available. This has led to the improvement of the quality of processed products sold by local companies. Fresh juices, fruit squashes, breakfast cereals, processed teas, coffee are a few of the local products that are now sold en masse in her outlets.

About Naivas Supermarket…Naivasha Self Service Stores Ltd started as small self service shop trading as Rongai Self Service Store in the year 1992 in Rongai in Nakuru district. It was a small family business serving the home village and its environs, thus the name Rongai.

The company grew to a major wholesale and distribution business in Rongai township and in 1994, a new branch was opened in Elburgon town (Molo area).In the year 1996, the company spread its wings to Naivasha town and started streamlining its operations so that it could offer unrivalled services to its customers specializing purely in retail through its supermarket outlets in Rongai, Elburgon and Naivasha.

In the year 1998, the company changed its name from Rongai Self Service Stores to Naivasha Self Service Stores Ltd. The company‟s first branch in Nairobi was opened in 2001 along Ronald Ngala street. Currently the supermarket chain has 13 outlets in the following towns Nairobi, Machakos, Eldoret, Naivasha, Embu,

For those of you looking wanting to be included in our site; please use the following Contact Form.

If you are an International Roaming MVNO Provider

following form

BROKEN Link, inaccurate Information, please contact us, and we will check it, and Fix It!

Please help us, by either Sponsoring our Site, or by placing a discreet and relevant Advert. Alternatively why not make a small Donation to support our site. We need your donation to continue to provide various free resource(s) and content.

All content provided on this site is for informational purposes only. PrepaidMVNO will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information. This site does not mean to harm, or encourage to harm any companies or person(s). Please Refer to our Legal Disclaimer for further information.

About the Author: admin

Newsletter & Tools

Press the Flag below to access specific Country Articles, or View Country News & Headlines.

Sign up for our free newsletter! You can unsubscribe at any point - and we guarantee that we'll never pass your details on to any third parties. Unsubscribe from our newsletter!