To link the M-Pesa and PayPal accounts, users will be required to register and log in with their PayPal credentials at www.paypal-mobilemoney.com/m-pesa to start using the service.
An SMS confirmation code will be sent to the user’s phone to complete the registration and the linking of the two accounts.
The integration comes after M-Pesa released an updated API in 2017 that allows businesses and online payment platforms to easily integrate with M-Pesa.
A statement from Safaricom states that ‘qualifying’ M-PESA customers in Kenya can link their PayPal accounts to their M-PESA wallets, enabling them to easily and securely buy goods and services from merchants around the globe.
Safaricom’s Director of Strategy, Joseph Ogutu said this development injects speed and convenience, “through which more entrepreneurs and consumers can benefit from the growing eCommerce industry.”
The PayPal – M-Pesa tie-up will likely be a blow to Equity Bank which has been the only local merchant for the international payment getaway.
What you can DO
Got paid through PayPal? That's great, now you can easily withdraw the funds to your M-PESA, and use them any way you like. Need to pay your bills? No problem - your latest PayPal payment can be waiting for you on your M-PESA. Yeah, it's that easy.
Why limit your shopping experience? It's now easier for you to top up your PayPal account, and shop around the world. Just transfer your M-PESA balance to your PayPal account, and get ready to shop almost anywhere, anytime.