Five Ways Safaricom PayPal-M-PESA Partnership will Benefit Kenyan Freelancers
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Safaricom PLC has expanded its support for Kenya’s freelance economy by integrating PayPal withdrawal functionality directly into its M-PESA super app, enabling Kenyan users, particularly freelancers and remote workers, to instantly access earnings from international clients.
The update introduces a PayPal mini app within M-PESA, eliminating the need to use external portals or logins.
This move comes as mobile money becomes increasingly central to Safaricom’s business. According to financial statements, Safaricom’s mobile money revenue grew by 15.2% year-on-year to KSh 161.1 billion ($1.25 billion) in the year ending March 2025.
This was driven by a 20.3% rise in chargeable transactions per active user, now at 37.92 monthly, and a 10.5% growth in one-month active customers, reaching 35.82 million.
The M-PESA app, which has been downloaded 13.7 million times, currently serves 4.7 million users and processed KSh 2.3 trillion ($17.83 billion) in 2024.
For Kenyan freelancers, earning through platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, and Freelancer.com, this Safaricom PayPal-M-PESA Partnership changes how they interact with international payments.
Here are five key benefits Kenyan freelancers now enjoy:
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Rapid Access to Earnings
Freelancers can now withdraw PayPal funds in M-PESA wallets within minutes, compared to the previous process using the Thunes web portal, which could take several hours or even days. This real-time access is especially useful for freelancers earning KSh 1,000 to KSh 10,000 per task in foreign currencies.
Instant withdrawals improve cash flow, enabling quick access to income for groceries, bills, or reinvestments in work-related tools, without the delays and uncertainty that previously characterized online payments.
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Streamlined User Experience
With the PayPal mini app within M-PESA, freelancers don’t need to exit the M-PESA environment or log in to external websites. The integration allows users to link their PayPal and M-PESA accounts, view exchange rates, and initiate withdrawals in a few taps.
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For Kenyan freelancers who primarily use mobile phones, especially in rural and peri-urban areas where desktop access is limited, this mobile-first approach simplifies financial management and reduces the friction of using multiple apps.
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No Bank Account Required
Previously, fast PayPal withdrawals required a linked bank account, commonly with Equity Bank. Now, the integration enables freelancers to move funds directly to M-PESA wallets without relying on banks.
This change is vital for freelancers living in areas where banking infrastructure is scarce or inconsistent. It reduces dependency on intermediary institutions, helps avoid extra bank charges, and makes paypal Kenyan freelancers more financially autonomous.
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Support for the Expanding Gig Economy
Kenya’s freelance sector has grown rapidly, encompassing roles in writing, design, software engineering, digital marketing, and transcription. These professionals commonly rely on PayPal to receive payment from overseas clients.
The safaricom paypal partnership addresses previous challenges such as high transaction costs, delays, and inconsistent service reliability. As the digital gig economy matures, this gives safaricom Kenyan freelancers a dependable and scalable financial tool to handle increasing volumes of remote work payments.
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Enhanced Financial Flexibility
Once freelancers receive PayPal funds in M-PESA wallets, they gain access to the full M-PESA ecosystem: bill payments, airtime purchases, merchant transactions, savings products, and peer-to-peer transfers. This means users can instantly allocate funds to personal or business expenses without cash withdrawals or third-party apps.
The platform’s compatibility with everyday financial activities makes it easier for freelancers to manage their money within a single system.
Jefferson Wachira is a writer at Africa Digest News, specializing in banking and finance trends, and their impact on African economies.
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