Airtel Money customers can now receive money directly from any network without the withdrawal code that carried a seven-day validity.

The move effective February 6, follows the Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) and industry players collaborative efforts towards seamless mobile money cross operations as outlined in the CBK National Payments Strategy 2022-2025.

The National Payments Strategy requires all mobile money providers to ensure a seamless customer services across networks to allow on-network and off-network direct transactions.

The changes allow a customer registered on any mobile money platform to send money directly to someone on another network

This applies to amounts as low as Sh1 and as high as Sh250,000 per transaction daily.

A customer sending money will now simply select ‘send money” to any network, enter the number of the recipient to complete the transaction which will immediately reflect in the wallet of the recipient - without a withdrawal code.

Airtel Money managing director, Anne Kinuthia-Otieno welcomed the new process describing it as a big benefit to Kenyans as customers will now enjoy seamless experience at affordable costs.

"Sending money is the biggest use case in Kenya and having a seamless, direct wallet to wallet transfer of money across networks is a big benefit to Kenyans.’’

Airtel Kenya MD Ashish Malhotra said the initiative is a major benefit for Kenyans as they can now enjoy the convenience of real-time transactions which has cut out limiting user intermediary steps.

In addition, the mobile money market will expand by allowing easy movement of money and enhancing financial inclusion for all.

"I would also like to thank the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) on the steps taken to ensure a smooth transition on the new guidelines,”he said.