Safaricom Announces Major Scheduled M-Pesa System Upgrade, Warns of Service Disruption
NAIROBI, Kenya – Safaricom PLC, Kenya’s leading telecommunications provider, has announced a comprehensive scheduled upgrade of its M-Pesa platform that will result in a complete service interruption for several hours this weekend. The maintenance window, described as essential for enhancing system security and introducing new features, will affect millions of users and businesses across Kenya and neighboring countries that rely on the mobile money service for daily transactions.
According to an official statement published on Safaricom’s website, the system maintenance is scheduled to begin on Saturday night from 11:00 PM and continue through to Sunday morning at 6:00 AM. During this seven-hour window, customers will be unable to access all M-Pesa services, including sending and receiving money, paying bills, withdrawing cash from agents, and using Lipa Na M-Pesa for merchant payments.
The upgrade represents one of the most significant technical enhancements to the platform in recent years and comes as M-Pesa handles record transaction volumes following its expansion across East Africa. Safaricom has emphasized that the downtime is necessary to implement critical security enhancements, system stability improvements, and infrastructure that will support new features set to be rolled out in the coming months.
“We wish to notify our customers that we will be undertaking a scheduled system upgrade on September 27, 2025, from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM on September 28, 2025. During this time, M-Pesa services will not be available. We advise customers to plan accordingly and complete any urgent transactions before the maintenance period begins.”
This official communication from Safaricom, as also reported by The Star, highlights the company’s effort to provide advance notice to the millions who depend on the service for both personal and business transactions. The timing of the upgrade during late night hours is designed to minimize disruption, though it will inevitably affect night-time businesses and emergency transactions.
The announcement has significant implications for Kenya’s digital economy, where M-Pesa processes approximately 50 million transactions daily and serves as the primary financial tool for nearly 80% of the adult population. The platform has evolved from a simple money transfer service to a comprehensive financial ecosystem that includes savings, credit, international transfers, and merchant payments.
Financial analysts and technology experts have noted that such major upgrades are becoming increasingly complex as the platform grows more sophisticated and integrated with banking systems, government services, and international money transfer networks. The seven-hour downtime window suggests the implementation of substantial backend improvements that cannot be performed through rolling updates or during shorter maintenance periods.
“This upgrade is part of our continuous investment in maintaining a secure, reliable, and innovative platform for our customers. The enhancements will provide a stronger foundation for future services and ensure we remain at the forefront of digital financial innovation while maintaining the highest standards of system security and stability.”
This statement from Safaricom’s leadership underscores the strategic importance of the upgrade in maintaining the platform’s competitive edge and security integrity. The company has faced increasing competition from other mobile money providers and banking apps, making continuous innovation essential for maintaining market leadership.
The business community has responded with mixed reactions to the announcement. While most acknowledge the necessity of system maintenance, many small businesses that operate outside traditional hours have expressed concern about the potential loss of revenue during the downtime. Night markets, taxi services, and 24-hour retail establishments that predominantly rely on M-Pesa payments are particularly affected.
Safaricom has advised customers to make necessary cash withdrawals in advance and consider alternative payment arrangements for time-sensitive transactions during the maintenance window. The company has also assured users that all transaction records will be preserved and that normal service will resume immediately after the upgrade is completed and tested.
This upgrade marks another milestone in the evolution of the platform that revolutionized financial inclusion in Kenya and became a model for mobile money services globally. As digital payments continue to grow in importance throughout the African continent, the reliability and security of systems like M-Pesa have significant implications for economic stability and growth.
Customers can expect to receive multiple reminder messages as the maintenance window approaches, and Safaricom has committed to providing regular updates through all its communication channels should the maintenance extend beyond the scheduled time or if any issues arise during the process.
