With seamless mobile money transactions becoming increasingly necessary in Kenya, many users find themselves needing to transfer funds between different mobile money platforms. One common transaction is withdrawing money from Airtel Money and accessing it through an M-Pesa agent. Although Airtel and Safaricom operate independently, you can still withdraw money from Airtel Money and collect it at an M-Pesa agent in Kenya—conveniently.

Step-by-Step Guide to Withdraw Money from Airtel Money to M-Pesa

Step 1: Transfer Money from Airtel Money to an M-Pesa Number

Since Airtel Money and M-Pesa aren't directly linked, you have to send the funds from your Airtel Money account to an M-Pesa account first. Here's how:

  1. Dial the Airtel Money USSD code—*222#—on your Airtel line. Then:

  2. Choose "Send Money" from the options. You want to send money to another number.

  3. Pick "Send to M-Pesa." That's the option you need.

  4. Enter the M-Pesa number where the funds should go. That's the recipient's phone number.

  5. Enter the amount you want to transfer.

  6. Check the details and confirm the transaction with your Airtel Money PIN.

  7. You and the recipient will both get a confirmation message once the transaction is successful.

Step 2: Withdraw Money from an M-Pesa Agent

After transferring the money from Airtel Money to M-Pesa, you can follow these steps to withdraw cash from an M-Pesa agent:

  1. Find an M-Pesa agent near you with your Safaricom-registered phone number.

  2. Go to the M-Pesa menu on your Safaricom line—or dial *334#. Then:

  3. Choose "Withdraw Cash." That's the option you need.

  4. Enter the unique agent number displayed at the M-Pesa agent's shop.

  5. Enter the amount you want to withdraw.

  6. Authorize the withdrawal with your M-Pesa PIN.

  7. Both you and the agent will receive a confirmation message.

  8. The agent will hand over the cash once the transaction is verified—and you can collect it.

Alternative Method: Using a Bank or Paybill Option

If you want a more direct route, you can transfer Airtel Money to a bank account that supports both Airtel Money and M-Pesa transactions. You can then withdraw from M-Pesa using the bank's paybill number.

Steps:

  1. Transfer money from Airtel Money to a bank account (like Equity or KCB).

  2. Use the bank's M-Pesa paybill to transfer funds from your bank to M-Pesa.

  3. Withdraw from an M-Pesa agent as outlined above.

Transferring money between mobile wallets and bank accounts can be a bit tricky. Here's how to transfer money from Airtel Money to your bank account (Equity or KCB, for example), then on to M-Pesa.

First, transfer that money from Airtel Money to your bank account. Then, use the bank's M-Pesa paybill to transfer those funds from your bank to M-Pesa. Finally, you can withdraw that cash from an M-Pesa agent.

Charges and limits do apply

The cost of transferring money from Airtel Money to M-Pesa depends on the amount you send. You'll pay Airtel Money's charges for sending funds to M-Pesa, and M-Pesa's withdrawal fees when you collect cash from an agent. Check Airtel's website or dial *222# for the latest on those fees.

When you need to get your hands on that money, transferring funds from Airtel Money to an M-Pesa number is a pretty straightforward solution. Just make sure you've got the right phone numbers and double-check those transaction details before you confirm the transfer.