Safaricom Launches Fuliza Ya Pochi to Help Small Business Owners Access Emergency Credit

Safaricom has launched a new service called Fuliza Ya Pochi to help small business owners in Kenya access credit when their business wallets have insufficient money.

The service was launched on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Makongeni Market in Thika. It targets traders who use Pochi La Biashara to receive payments from their customers.

Fuliza Ya Pochi will allow eligible business owners to continue running their businesses even when they do not have enough money in their Pochi wallets. They can use the service to pay suppliers, buy stock, send money and pay utility bills.

Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa said the new service aims to help small businesses deal with money shortages that can affect their daily operations.

Many small traders depend on daily sales to buy new stock and pay their suppliers. Sometimes, a business owner may receive customers but lack enough money to buy the goods needed to serve them. This can lead to lost sales and delayed payments.

With Fuliza Ya Pochi, Safaricom hopes to give eligible traders another way to manage these challenges and keep their businesses running.

However, not every Pochi La Biashara user will qualify automatically. To be eligible, traders must have actively used Pochi La Biashara for more than six months. The amount of credit available will depend on their business activity.

Business owners can check and access the service through the Pochi Mini App on My OneApp or by dialling *334# on their phones.

The borrowed money will be repaid automatically from future payments received through their Pochi wallets. Traders should therefore understand the borrowing costs and repayment terms before using the service.

Pochi La Biashara helps small business owners receive customer payments while keeping business money separate from personal funds. The platform already serves more than two million micro-business owners in Kenya.

The launch adds to Safaricom’s growing range of financial services designed to support traders and other M-PESA users.

For small business owners, the new service could provide useful support during difficult business days. However, traders are encouraged to borrow carefully and use the credit for needs that can help their businesses continue operating.

Safaricom expects the service to improve access to short-term credit for eligible traders and help them manage everyday business expenses more easily.

source:https://www.tuko.co.ke/facts-life-guides/guides/626089-safaricom-launches-fuliza-ya-pochi-for-kenyan-small-traders-shares-ussd-code-access-loan/