How to Accept M-Pesa Payments Online in Kenya (2026): Till, Paybill and Checkout

Oct 19, 2026

Buy More Mall Kenya

In Kenya, "Can I pay by M-Pesa?" is often the first question a buyer asks. If paying is hard, they buy elsewhere. Here is how to accept M-Pesa properly, from a simple till to a full online checkout.

Quick answer: Small businesses usually take M-Pesa through a Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods till (customer pays a till number) or a Paybill (customer enters a business number and an account number, useful for invoices). For a website, the buyer should get an M-Pesa prompt (STK push) on their phone at checkout. On Buy More Mall, checkout with M-Pesa is built in, so you can sell online without setting up your own payment system.

Till Number vs Paybill: Which One Do You Need?

	Buy Goods till	Paybill
How the customer pays	Enters your till number and amount	Enters business number + account number + amount
Best for	Shops, kiosks, quick sales	Invoices, rent, schools, many customers or branches
Tracking	Simple	Account number tells you who paid for what
Typical applicant	Sole traders and small shops	Registered businesses and organisations

What You Need to Apply

Requirements change, so confirm with Safaricom, but applicants are usually asked for:

National ID (or passport) of the owner.
KRA PIN certificate (how to get a KRA PIN).
Business registration certificate for registered businesses (register a business name).
County business permit for premises-based businesses.
Bank details if money settles to a bank account.

What Does It Cost?

Safaricom charges the merchant a small percentage on Lipa na M-Pesa payments, with lower or no charges for small amounts; customers paying a Buy Goods till are generally not charged. Tariffs change, so check the current Safaricom business tariff before you set your prices, and include the fee in your margin (how to price products for profit).

How to Take M-Pesa on a Website

A proper online checkout sends an STK push: the buyer enters their phone number, gets a prompt and enters their PIN. Building this yourself needs Safaricom's API (Daraja), a developer, a server and testing. Most small businesses do not need to build it: a marketplace with M-Pesa checkout does the work.

Selling With M-Pesa Checkout on Buy More Mall

Open your shop and list products with prices.
Buyers tap Buy now on your product or your own website and pay at checkout with M-Pesa.
You get the order in your seller dashboard and deliver.
For quotations and bulk orders, buyers send their list to your WhatsApp with a reference number, and you agree payment.

Safety tip: never send goods because of a forwarded "payment message". Confirm the payment in your own M-Pesa statement or app first.