Safaricom has introduced a new feature called M-PESA Jumbe, designed to provide customers with a secure payment receipt that does not expose their balance or personal details. When a customer makes a payment at a Till, Safaricom sends two messages: a standard M-PESA SMS with the balance and a Jumbe SMS that proves the payment without revealing sensitive information. This feature aims to address the issue of customers exposing their balance and personal details when showing payment receipts to cashiers, sellers, or delivery riders.
The Jumbe SMS, officially known as Split Notifications, contains the transaction code, amount, business name, Till number, and date and time of the transaction. However, it does not include the customer's M-PESA balance, full name, or phone number. Instead, it displays a JumbeID, which is a unique identifier created from the customer's first initial, last initial, and the last two digits of their phone number. For example, a customer named Nancy Kamau with a phone number ending in 74 would have a JumbeID of NK_74.
The Jumbe feature is designed to be convenient for customers, as it does not require registration or opt-in. If a business has enabled the feature, customers will automatically receive a Jumbe SMS along with their standard M-PESA SMS. However, not all businesses may have enabled this feature, and customers may not receive a Jumbe SMS if the business has not switched it on. In such cases, customers will have to rely on their standard M-PESA SMS as proof of payment.
Safaricom built the Jumbe feature primarily with shop staff in mind, as it addresses a common problem faced by businesses. When a customer makes a payment, the cashier may need to confirm the payment with the owner, which can be inconvenient and interrupt the owner's work. With Jumbe, the owner can nominate staff to receive a short alert for each payment, which shows the amount, transaction reference, and customer's JumbeID, without revealing sensitive information.
Businesses can enable the Jumbe feature through USSD by dialling *234# or through the M-PESA Business Hub. The M-PESA Business App is expected to support it later. Safaricom published the FAQ and merchant terms on July 6, 2026, providing businesses with the necessary information to implement the feature. The feature also covers Paybills, although the exact format of a Paybill receipt is not yet clear.
The Jumbe feature provides several benefits to customers and businesses. Customers can now show a secure payment receipt to cashiers, sellers, or delivery riders without exposing their balance or personal details. Businesses can also nominate staff to receive alerts for each payment, making it easier to confirm payments and reducing interruptions to the owner's work.
Overall, the M-PESA Jumbe feature is an important enhancement to the M-PESA payment service, providing customers with a secure and convenient way to make payments and prove transactions without exposing sensitive information. As more businesses enable the feature, customers can expect to see wider adoption and increased benefits from using M-PESA.
Key points
- The Jumbe feature provides a secure payment receipt that does not expose the customer's balance or personal details.
- The feature is designed to be convenient for customers, with no registration or opt-in required.
- Businesses can enable the feature through USSD or the M-PESA Business Hub, and it is expected to be supported by the M-PESA Business App later.
