Safaricom has introduced a new M-Pesa feature that allows users to hide their phone numbers when sending money, in a move aimed at enhancing privacy and security for customers.
In a statement on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said protecting customer information remains central to Safaricom’s operations as M-PESA continues to evolve.
“As M-Pesa turns 19 this month, we are reminded that the trust of our over 40 million M-PESA customers, who rely on this platform every day, is our greatest responsibility,” Ndegwa said.
“That trust is built not only on the reliability of M-PESA, but also on how well we protect the personal information of those who use it.”
Under the new update, recipients will only see limited details of the sender when money is transferred through M-Pesa. The change is designed to minimise exposure of personal information and respond to customer concerns about privacy.
The new update is expected to protect users from unwanted contact, fraud risks, and misuse of personal phone numbers after transactions. It also aligns with growing demand for data protection and safer digital financial services in Kenya’s mobile money ecosystem.
Safaricom said the feature will be rolled out in phases to ensure the feature works smoothly while maintaining the safety and reliability of the platform.
“We will be launching this feature by the end of this month, and plan to roll this out to the rest of our entire M-Pesa ecosystem in subsequent phases, to ensure that our services continue to remain safe and secure for all our customers,” he said.
The feature will improve user confidence in mobile transactions while maintaining the efficiency and reliability that has made M-Pesa one of the most widely used mobile payment platforms in the region