Safaricom explains why some customers are suddenly receiving money through M-PESA archived funds
By Mustafa Juma, July 24, 2026Safaricom has explained why some customers are unexpectedly receiving money through M-PESA Archived Funds, following growing curiosity among subscribers who have reported surprise deposits linked to old phone numbers they no longer use.
The clarification came after an X user identified as @BlessedMorgaan questioned an unexpected M-PESA notification showing that he had received Ksh25 through the “M-PESA Archived Funds” service.
“Good morning/Evening/night @Safaricom_Care @SafaricomPLC, what’s the meaning of this? Earlier on I saw someone receiving KSh2,500. What’s really happening?” the X user asked Safaricom on July 23, 2026, while sharing a screenshot of the transaction.
The notification read:
“UGNF90928R Confirmed. You have received KSh25.00 from your old inactive number through M-PESA Archived Funds on 23/07/2026…”
Safaricom explains the mystery
Responding to the customer’s query, Safaricom said the money originated from one of the subscriber’s previous phone numbers that had been registered under his national ID but was no longer active.
“Hello @BlessedMorgaan, this was money sent to you from a previous line registered under you; however, you stopped using the line,” Safaricom replied.
The explanation prompted another question from the customer, who sought to know whether the old SIM card had been locked.
“Meaning the line will be locked?” the X user posed.
Safaricom clarified that the payment had nothing to do with the status of the old line but was instead a refund of money that had remained in an inactive M-PESA account before the SIM card was eventually recycled.
“Hi @BlessedMorgaan, not really. That is money that was in one of your old lines under your ID that was recycled/sold to another customer and we are now refunding you that amount,” Safaricom clarified.
What are M-PESA Archived Funds?
M-PESA Archived Funds refer to money recovered from dormant or inactive M-PESA accounts after the associated SIM cards have been deactivated and later recycled.
When a customer stops using a Safaricom line for an extended period, the company may deactivate the SIM and eventually reissue the mobile number to another customer.
However, before recycling the number, any balance that remained in the previous owner’s M-PESA wallet is preserved. Safaricom later transfers those funds to another active M-PESA line registered under the same national identification details once the original owner is identified.
This ensures that customers do not permanently lose money simply because they stopped using a particular mobile number.
Why some customers are receiving different amounts
The latest explanation comes after several subscribers shared screenshots online showing varying amounts being credited through the Archived Funds process.
While some customers reported receiving just a few shillings, others said they had received thousands of shillings, prompting speculation about the source of the unexpected payments.
Safaricom’s clarification indicates that the amount depends entirely on how much money remained in the customer’s inactive M-PESA account before the SIM card was recycled.
M-PESA account management
Safaricom has previously advised customers to withdraw or transfer funds before abandoning a mobile line, particularly if they no longer intend to use the SIM card.
The company also encourages subscribers to update their contact information and maintain at least one active line registered under their national ID to facilitate communication and any future recovery of archived balances.
M-PESA continues evolving
M-PESA remains Kenya’s largest mobile money platform, processing millions of transactions daily and serving more than 35 million active users.
Over the years, Safaricom has continued introducing new consumer protection measures, including enhanced fraud detection, encrypted statements, dormant account management and improved customer recovery processes.
The latest clarification on Archived Funds has provided reassurance to customers who were puzzled by the unexpected payments, confirming that the credits are legitimate refunds of money left behind in inactive M-PESA accounts rather than random transfers or system errors.