Pochi La Biashara accounts surge 73 per cent as traders ditch Buy Goods tills
In the six months ending September, the number of Pochi La Biashara accounts rose sharply by 72.6 per cent, reaching 1.5 million, Safaricom’s latest data shows.
Pochi La Biashara accounts surge 73 per cent as traders ditch Buy Goods tills
Small traders are increasingly turning to Safaricom’s Pochi La Biashara, leaving Buy Goods tills behind as the preferred digital payment option.
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In the six months ending September, the number of Pochi La Biashara accounts rose sharply by 72.6 per cent, reaching 1.5 million, Safaricom’s latest data shows.
In contrast, Buy Goods tills recorded a slower growth of 32.2 per cent, totalling 870,740 accounts over the same period.
The difference reflects a growing preference among merchants for a platform that allows them to receive payments without paying fees, unlike Buy Goods, which imposes charges on business owners.
Under Pochi La Biashara, customers pay a small fee when sending money, while businesses enjoy full receipt of funds without deductions.
This structure has appealed to small-scale operators such as food vendors, retail kiosks, and service providers, who are seeking to cut costs and separate personal finances from business income.
Launched in 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pochi La Biashara was designed for traders without formal Lipa na M-Pesa merchant accounts.
The service allows them to hold a business wallet, receive payments securely, and reduce the risk of cash reversals—a common issue when using personal M-Pesa accounts.
"A big worry for small business owners using personal M-Pesa accounts to receive payments is how often people take advantage of that by reversing the funds sent to purchase a service or product," Safaricom said at the time.
"With Pochi La Biashara, one cannot reverse any funds without consent from the other party involved, shielding business owners from fraudulent customers."
The service also protects funds from automatic deductions by Fuliza, Safaricom’s mobile overdraft facility, and offers account statements to help business owners track transactions.
Subscribers can opt in or out of Pochi La Biashara freely, giving them flexibility to manage their payment setup.
Overall, M-Pesa’s digital payments ecosystem, including Pochi La Biashara, Buy Goods, and cash transfer services, contributed to a 14 percent increase in revenue, rising to Sh88.1 billion from Sh77.2 billion year-on-year.
The growth underscores the platform’s role in supporting Kenya’s small businesses while maintaining a robust mobile money revenue stream for Safaricom.
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