Safaricom has launched Fuliza Ya Pochi, a new overdraft facility designed specifically to empower merchants using its Pochi la Biashara service in Kenya.
Safaricom has introduced Fuliza Ya Pochi, a new financial service that extends M-PESA’s popular credit ecosystem to Pochi La Biashara merchants, giving micro-businesses across Kenya essential cash flow flexibility.
The innovative product provides over one million qualifying merchants with access to an overdraft facility, ensuring they can complete critical business transactions even when their available wallet balance falls short.
Small-scale entrepreneurs often face daily cash flow challenges that can result in delayed stock purchases, missed sales, or late supplier payments. Fuliza Ya Pochi allows merchants to bridge these short-term funding gaps seamlessly, enabling them to pay suppliers, make Buy Goods transactions, send money and cover utility bills without interrupting daily operations.
Peter Ndegwa the Group CEO of Safaricom PLC, noted that
“Across Kenya, thousands of micro-businesses face daily cash flow gaps that can mean missed sales, delayed stock purchases, or postponed supplier payments. Fuliza Ya Pochi helps merchants overcome these short-term challenges while continuing to build their businesses. As merchants transact and grow on M-PESA, they create a pathway to greater financial opportunities.”
The overdraft facility is designed to be accessible and straightforward for active small-business owners. Eligibility is open to merchants who have actively used Pochi La Biashara for more than six months, enabling them to access the service conveniently through the Pochi Mini App on My OneApp or by dialing the USSD code *334#. Upon enrolling, qualifying users receive an individualized overdraft limit determined by their transaction history and business activity, with borrowed amounts automatically settled from future incoming payments received directly into the merchant’s Pochi wallet.
Pochi La Biashara currently supports over two million informal entrepreneurs and micro-businesses across Kenya by providing a secure way to receive customer payments while keeping personal and business funds separate.
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The introduction of Fuliza Ya Pochi builds on the proven success of the original Fuliza consumer overdraft launched in 2019, as well as subsequent extensions for larger Lipa na M-PESA businesses.
The launch coincides with recent measures introduced by Safaricom to further support small merchants including zero-rating all customer payments up to KES 200 and reducing charges by 50% for customer payments above KES 200 (capped at a maximum charge of KES 50) for a three-month period. Together, these initiatives reinforce Safaricom’s ongoing commitment to strengthening micro-enterprises and expanding accessible financial services nationwide.
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