{
  "id": 2320523,
  "title": "Safaricom explains how to reactivate an old, inactive line from home",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/safaricom-explains-how-to-reactivate-an-old-inactive-line-from-home",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-21T06:26:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/news/safaricom-explains-how-to-reactivate-an-old-inactive-line-from-home"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Safaricom has revealed how customers with old or inactive mobile lines can reactivate their numbers remotely, without needing to visit a store. The company explained the process through a skit on its X account, demonstrating how a customer, Oti, struggles to use his line after a long period of inactivity. The skit shows that Oti's line stopped working due to prolonged lack of use, preventing him from making calls, sending texts, accessing data or using M-Pesa services. In reality, many people keep old numbers even after getting new ones, using them for specific purposes like accounts or mobile-money services. To reactivate an eligible old line, a customer must use an active Safaricom line and dial 1002#. They need to then select the “Recreate Old SIM” option and follow the on-screen instructions. Having the old SIM’s serial number handy is also necessary. After recreating the SIM, customers should load airtime and use the line regularly for calls, texts, data or M-Pesa transactions to keep it active. The skit highlights that losing access to an old number often happens because of long periods without use. A line might stop working if there's no activity like calling, messaging, using data, topping up airtime or making M-Pesa transactions. This can be especially problematic for people who rely on a number for services like M-Pesa, banking or account verification. Therefore, Safaricom's guidance is both a recovery guide and a reminder to keep important lines active. If someone has an old number that's stopped working, they can start the reactivation process by dialing *100*2# from an active Safaricom line and following the “Recreate Old SIM” instructions, provided the line meets Safaricom's requirements.",
  "summary": "Safaricom has explained how customers with old or inactive mobile lines can reactivate their numbers from home, offering a self-service option that can restore access to calls, SMS, data and M-Pesa without requiring an immediate visit to a Safaricom shop. The telecommunications company shared the detailed explanation on its X account on Friday, August 21, […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}