M-PESA GO is a specialized mobile money product designed for children and teenagers aged 10 to 17. This innovative service enables young users to use selected M-PESA services independently while under parental supervision, promoting financial literacy and inclusion among Kenya's youth.
The product gives teens their own M-PESA account under their name, providing a platform to conveniently and securely receive, send, and manage their pocket money using their own secret PIN, eliminating the need to carry physical cash.
Purpose and Benefits
M-PESA GO aims to drive financial inclusion and financial literacy among juniors by:
- Allowing teens to use essential M-PESA services such as Lipa na M-PESA, sending and receiving money, and buying airtime and bundles
- Providing parents with the ability to guide their children's financial journey
- Giving teens early exposure to making financial decisions with parental guidance
- Offering parents visibility and control over where and how their children spend money
- Enabling parents to determine spending permissions by enabling or disabling specific services
Registration Process
Safaricom provides three convenient registration methods for M-PESA GO:
Method 1: M-PESA App Registration
- Log in to your M-PESA App
- Navigate to 'Financial Services' and select M-PESA GO
- Enter your M-PESA PIN
- Enter the mobile number you wish to register
- Fill in the KYC form with your teen's details (name, date of birth, gender)
- Upload the teen's birth certificate or passport
- Enter your M-PESA PIN and submit
Method 2: Web Portal Registration
- Visit the self-onboarding portal at https://safaricom.com/mpesa-go
- Enter your mobile number and ID/Passport number
- Receive and enter the OTP (One-Time PIN)
- Select the number (among those registered to you) to register to M-PESA GO
- Enter the teen's name, date of birth, nationality, and gender
- Upload the teen's birth certificate or passport
- Submit and receive confirmation of successful registration
Method 3: Safaricom Shop
Visit any Safaricom shop where staff will assist in registering your teen. You must bring:
- Your National ID or Passport
- A clear copy of the teen's birth certificate or passport
Registration Requirements
Parents do not need to visit a Safaricom shop with their teen for registration. The required documents are:
- For the parent: National ID or Passport
- For the teen: Birth certificate or passport
Parents can register up to four M-PESA GO accounts under their M-PESA profile.
Flexible Document Upload
Safaricom recognizes that parents may not always have documents readily available. Therefore, you can skip the document upload step during initial registration, but must complete it within 30 days.
Important: Teens cannot transact on M-PESA before the birth certificate or passport is uploaded.
To complete registration later:
- Via M-PESA GO Miniapp: Log in, tap the notification on the homepage, upload documentation, and enter your M-PESA PIN
- Via Web Portal: Visit the portal, enter your details, select the account awaiting document upload, and complete the process
Available Services for Teens
M-PESA GO allows teens to access the following services:
- Send Money: Transfer funds to other M-PESA users
- Receive Money: Accept money from others
- Lipa na M-PESA: Make payments through Paybill and Buy Goods
- Buy Airtime and Bundles: Purchase mobile airtime and data bundles
- ZIIDI Savings: Opt into ZIIDI to save as little as Ksh 100 and earn competitive interest (dial *334# > Financial services > ZIIDI > ZIIDI MMF)
- My Account Services: Basic account management
Safety Restrictions
To safeguard young users, M-PESA GO restricts access to certain services:
- No digital loans (Mshwari, KCB M-PESA, Fuliza)
- No cash withdrawals
- No payments to betting companies
- No payments to political parties
Parental Control Features
Parents have comprehensive control and visibility over their teen's account by dialing *334# > My Account > Manage Junior Account, which provides:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Manage Services | Enable or disable services such as send money, buy airtime, or Lipa na M-PESA |
| Manage Junior Relationships | Add or remove teen accounts and view all teens under your profile |
| View Junior Account Info | Check your teen's account balance or mini statements |
| Daily Transaction Limits | Set, change, or delete daily spending limits |
| View Recent Transactions | Check your teen's last 5 transactions |
Converting Existing M-PESA Accounts
If a teen already has a line registered on M-PESA with active services like Mshwari, KCB M-PESA, or Pochi la Biashara, they can still register for M-PESA GO. However:
- Any outstanding loans must be repaid first
- Savings must be transferred or withdrawn before proceeding
- When registering via the web portal, you'll be asked to consent to these products being closed for successful registration
For lines registered on Safaricom but not yet on M-PESA, parents must visit a Safaricom Shop where staff will assist with the internal registration process.
Linking Teen Accounts to Parent Profile
After registration, link your teen's M-PESA GO account to your profile by:
- Dialing *334# > My Account > Manage Junior Account > Manage Junior Account Relationship > Add Junior Account
- Entering the Junior Phone Number
- Entering the Teen's Date of Birth
- Confirming and entering your M-PESA PIN
To view M-PESA GO accounts on your profile, use the M-PESA GO miniapp in the M-PESA App, or dial *334# and navigate to the Manage Junior Account section.
How Teens Can Access Their Account
Teens can manage their M-PESA GO account through three channels:
- M-PESA App: A version with limited features designed for M-PESA GO users
- STK (SIM Tool Kit): Built into the SIM card
- USSD: By dialing *334#
