M-Shwari

Published: April 22, 2021 at 8:22 AM | Last Updated: October 7, 2025 at 8:19 AM

Need a quick loan for a purchase or just to get you through the month? Or maybe you want a safe place to grow your savings? M-Shwari gives you both, directly from your M-PESA.

To join M-Shwari, go to your M-PESA menu, choose ‘My account’ and ‘Update menu’, then go to ‘Loans and Savings’, click on ‘Mshwari’, choose ‘Activate account’ and accept the Terms & conditions.

With M-Shwari, you can:

Save from as little as Ksh 1 and earn up to 6.3% interest per year.
Access instant loans from Ksh 100 up to Ksh 50,000. Loan fees are 7.5% plus 1.5% excise duty, deducted from the loan amount.
Save for a fixed period using the Lock Savings Account.

How to qualify for a loan

To unlock loans on M-Shwari, you need to:
Be an M-PESA customer for at least 6 months.
Save regularly on M-Shwari.
Actively use other Safaricom services like voice, data, and M-PESA.

When you borrow

You can borrow any amount within your loan limit, from as little as Ksh 100 to Ksh 50,000. Repayment is within one month, and you can pay back either from M-PESA or directly from your M-Shwari account.

How it works

Go to your M-PESA menu.
Select Loans and Savings > M-Shwari > Loan.
Enter the amount you want and your M-PESA PIN.
The loan will be sent instantly to your M-PESA account, minus the facility fee.

Lock Savings Account

The M-Shwari Lock Savings Account helps you set money aside safely for a goal of your choice or even a rainy day.

You decide how long to lock your money from 1 month up to 12 months. There’s no minimum deposit, and your savings earn interest daily, paid monthly or at maturity. The money stays locked until your chosen maturity date, but if you need it earlier, you can request a withdrawal and access it within 48 hours.

How to open

On your M-PESA menu, go to Loans and Savings > M-Shwari.
Select Lock Savings Account > Open Account.
Choose whether to save from M-PESA or M-Shwari.
Enter your target amount, lock period (1–6 months), and deposit.
You’ll receive an SMS confirmation once your Lock Savings Account is active.

Benefits

No minimum savings
No charges on your Lock Savings Account.
Fixed interest during the lock period, calculated daily and paid monthly or at maturity.
A safe, flexible way to grow your money while keeping it out of easy reach.

When your money matures

At maturity, you’ll receive an SMS notification with the total amount saved plus the interest earned.

M-Shwari 52 Week Challenge

Want to build a saving habit, one week at a time? The M-Shwari 52-Week Challenge makes it easy and achievable, helping you grow your money steadily throughout the year. The goal: save up to Ksh 68,900 in 12 months without the pressure.

How it works

Start small and increase gradually each week. Save Ksh 50 in week 1, Ksh 100 in week 2, Ksh 150 in week 3, and keep adding Ksh 50 every week until the last week of December, when you’ll save Ksh 2,600. By the end, your total savings will be Ksh 68,900.
All your savings earn 6% interest per year, and every deposit helps grow your M-Shwari loan limit too.

How to set up

Go to M-PESA (via the Safaricom App or SIM Toolkit).
Select Loans and Savings > M-Shwari.
Select Lock Savings Account > Open Lock Account.
Set your target at Ksh 68,900 (or more).
Set the period at 12 months.
Choose whether to save from M-PESA or M-Shwari.
Once your account is open, deposit the set amount each week according to the 52-Week Challenge calendar.

How to check your balance