The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
For millions of Kenyans, Fuliza acts as a financial safety net when their M-Pesa balance falls short during a transaction.
But regular M-Pesa usage does not necessarily mean a customer will qualify for a Fuliza limit.
Safaricom recently addressed the issue after customer Victor Frank Ronooh questioned why his Fuliza limit remained at Ksh0 despite frequent M-Pesa transactions and what he described as a good repayment record.
According to Safaricom, Fuliza limits are determined through an automated credit-scoring system that considers several factors.
The telecommunications company advised Ronooh to continue using M-Pesa regularly and ensure that any outstanding loans are repaid on time, including Okoa Jahazi.
This means simply sending, receiving or spending money frequently through M-Pesa does not automatically guarantee access to Fuliza.
Safaricom has not revealed the full formula it uses to calculate individual Fuliza limits. As a result, there is no specific number of transactions, transaction value or waiting period that guarantees a customer will receive or increase their limit.
The company’s Fuliza terms indicate that credit scoring takes into account factors such as a customer’s use of Safaricom services and their repayment history.
Safaricom’s FY2025 results booklet also notes that Fuliza limits are influenced by credit scoring and the length of time a customer has used M-Pesa.
How to refresh your Fuliza limit
Customers with a zero Fuliza limit can try refreshing it through the M-Pesa menu.
To do so:
- Dial *334#
- Select option 00
- Choose “Refresh my limit”
However, refreshing the limit does not guarantee that Fuliza will be allocated. The final decision is still made through Safaricom’s automated credit assessment.
The company also encourages customers without an overdraw limit to continue using M-Pesa to build their transaction history and maintain good credit behaviour.
Still, more transactions should not be viewed as a guaranteed way of increasing a Fuliza limit.
What can affect your Fuliza eligibility?
Safaricom’s advice also highlighted the importance of repaying other credit facilities on time, including Okoa Jahazi.
The company advised customers to clear outstanding loans promptly, suggesting that repayment behaviour on other Safaricom credit products may form part of the broader assessment.
However, Safaricom has not publicly stated exactly how much weight Okoa Jahazi repayments carry in determining a Fuliza limit.
Therefore, there is no guaranteed formula linking a particular M-Pesa balance, transaction volume or Okoa Jahazi repayment pattern to a specific Fuliza limit.
The key takeaway is that regular M-Pesa usage, responsible credit repayment and a consistent transaction history may support eligibility, but Fuliza limits ultimately depend on Safaricom’s automated credit assessment.
