M-PESA Go: The Ultimate Parent’s Guide to Junior Mobile Money

In a world where everything is going digital, its more important now than ever that the next generation has a good understanding of how money works - and thats where M-PESA Go comes in. Its a special version of the M-PESA app that lets kids aged 12 to 17 use mobile money with an adult keeping an eye on things.

Whether you want to start your teenager on a monthly allowance or teach them how to look after their pocket money, here is the breakdown on everything you need to know about M-PESA Go.

What Exactly Is M-PESA Go?

M-PESA Go is the youth version of the M-PESA App that you know and love - but instead of needing a National ID to get started, you can link a mobile number to a child’s birth certificate instead. Thats a big plus for parents, because it helps keep the little ones safe online.

The good news is that the account still belongs to the grown-up who signed them up, so its a bit of a "training wheels" experience where the kids can send money and use Lipa Na M-PESA without getting into any trouble.

Key Safety Features & Limitations

Safaricom has built in a load of safety features to make sure the kids are safe online. Some of the key ones are:

• No Betting or Gambling: All betting services are blocked, so the kids cant get into trouble placing a bet.

• No Digital Loans: The account is prepaid, so they cant get into debt using services like Fuliza or M-Shwari.

• No Cash Withdrawals: To keep things transparent and safe, the account is stuck to using digital merchants - no cash withdrawals at M-PESA agents are allowed.

• Parental Control: Using the M-PESA Super App or dialing *334#, you can set limits and toggle services on and off for your little one.

How To Sign Up For M-PESA Go

You can manage up to four junior accounts for the kids, and you can sign them up in three different ways:

Method 1: Online Via Safaricom Website

Just pop over to the site, enter your ID and phone number, and upload a clear photo of the kids birth cert.

Method 2: Via The M-PESA Super App

• Open the app and go to the services tab.

• Pick the M-PESA Go mini app and then choose to add a minor.

Method 3: Instore

Just pop down to a Safaricom Shop with your original ID and the kids birth cert and we will get things sorted.

Important Note For Existing Lines: If you are converting an existing line to M-PESA Go, you will need to clear any existing loans, opt out of any credit services and withdraw any savings before you can switch.

M-PESA Go vs. Shiriki Pay: What’s the Difference?

While both services involve "controlled spending," they serve different purposes:

What Happens When They Turn 18?

Dont worry, its a smooth transition - once the young adult gets their National ID the parent and the young adult just head down to a Safaricom shop and do a Transfer of responsibility and that is it, they are then free to use the M-PESA account with full autonomy.