Safaricom unveils new M-PESA payment features including Tap-to-Pay and AI payments

Safaricom has introduced several new M-PESA payment features to streamline transactions for customers, including Dynamic Scan-to-Pay, Tap-to-Pay, and AI-assisted payments. According to the telecommunications company, these enhancements will offer customers more convenient methods to complete payments while minimizing the number of manual steps involved in M-PESA transactions.

Safaricom announced these updates on their social media platforms on October 1, 2026, stating that the new options, in collaboration with Pesapal, will be brought to the Pesapal POS network, providing customers with simpler ways to complete their M-PESA payments with fewer manual steps.

Dynamic Scan-to-Pay builds upon M-PESA's existing Scan-to-Pay service, which is already accessible at over 60,000 merchants. With this new feature, customers equipped with NFC-enabled smartphones can simply scan a QR code displayed on a Pesapal point-of-sale (POS) terminal. After scanning, the merchant details and payment amount are automatically populated.

This eliminates the need for customers to manually enter these details, allowing them to initiate a transaction by merely placing their compatible smartphone against the POS terminal and verifying the payment.

Moreover, Safaricom is enhancing M-PESA payments through AI technology via AI Pay on My OneApp. Customers can now scan receipts, including handwritten ones, using the application. If the information is available, the system can automatically identify the relevant till or paybill details and payment amount. Safaricom stated, "Simply scan any receipt, including handwritten ones, and where available, the till or paybill details and payment amount will be picked automatically!"

This feature simplifies the payment process by reducing manual data entry and providing customers with additional ways to pay at participating merchants.