• Latest
  • All
  • How To
How to make Next of Kin claim

Next of Kin: How to Claim M-Pesa Funds in the Event of Death

May 24, 2023
Voter Verification Portal Offline Indefinitely for System Maintenance

IEBC Portal Shutdown for Undisclosed Maintenance Period

July 6, 2025
Infinix Note 50 Pro x Java House Collab

Infinix Teams Up with Java House to Launch Note 50 Pro Series

July 4, 2025
Instagram threads

Instagram Threads Rolls Out Direct Messaging in Major Feature Update

July 4, 2025
Infinix Hot 60i Pre-order

Infinix Hot 60i Now Available for Pre-Order in Kenya

July 4, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
Windows

Microsoft’s Windows Usage Slumps as Macs, Linux, and Mobile Take Over

July 4, 2025
Microsoft

Microsoft Slashes 9,100 Jobs in Biggest Layoffs Since 2023

July 4, 2025
NASA

NASA Brings Space Missions to Netflix at No Extra Cost

July 3, 2025
ios 26-facetime

iOS 26 May Pause Video if You Start Undressing on FaceTime

July 3, 2025
apple iphone foldable

Apple Begins Testing Its First Foldable iPhone

July 3, 2025
Mobile Data

Kenya Draws More Tourists as Mobile Data Roaming Soars

July 3, 2025
Axian Telecom Considers Full Acquisition of Jumia

Axian Telecom Is Plotting a Full Buyout of Jumia

July 3, 2025
Cable TV

Kenya’s Cable TV Market Rebounds with 31.5% Growth

July 3, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Next of Kin: How to Claim M-Pesa Funds in the Event of Death

Sakwa Kombo by Sakwa Kombo
May 24, 2023
in How To
Reading Time: 6 mins read
289
0
How to make Next of Kin claim

On their M-Pesa account, a person close to you may elect you as next of kin. In the unfortunate event that they pass on, you are eligible to claim the funds available in their M-Pesa account.


Next of kin is a term used to describe a person’s closest living blood relative whom Safaricom may contact in case of any eventuality.
M-Pesa deposits may also be claimed by a legal representative.

A legal representative means a person who is authorized to deal with the estate of a deceased person.
This person may be authorized through appointment under a will or by right and thereafter application to a court as per the law.

In addition to the loss of life, you can claim funds in the event a loved one is mentally incapacitated.


Next of Kin Ignorant of M-Pesa Deposits


Unlike other unclaimed assets in the financial markets, mobile deposits have not received much attention. In fact, most consumers fail to claim monies sitting in their relatives’ mobile money accounts in case they pass on.
Yet, M-Pesa deposits are financial assets similar to assets left by deceased persons in banks, Saccos, and insurance companies. This is mainly because relatives of the deceased are ignorant of M-Pesa and mainly assume the balance to be minimal.
However, with the increased subscriber base for Safaricom and frequent usage of mobile money, the figure can be significant for some users.

For example, in 2015, the Telco reported it had Ksh 500 million that had been lying idle for 2 years on M-Pesa accounts.
Indeed, with the growth of M-Pesa year on year, this figure must be much higher.


Here is what you should know to make a claim for funds left on M-Pesa.

Documentation Needed to Make Claim


A number of documents are needed for one to successfully make a claim. Indeed, this is no surprise given the sensitive nature of finance and more so of death.
In addition, Safaricom requires the claimant to physically visit one of their retail centres with the documents.

These are prerequisites before funds are released.

The ID of the claimant: This is the national ID of the person claiming the deceased funds.
Death Certificate: This is a government document that proves that the owner of the M-Pesa account is deceased.
Statutory Declaration (Affidavit): A document witnessed by an advocate commissioner for oaths stating certain facts including the claimant’s relation to the deceased.
Grant of Letters of Administration (interstate): This is a legal document obtained from any probate & administration court.
The same is issued after the court is satisfied that a person can act as a legal representative to the estate of a deceased person who did not leave a will appointing a personal representative.
Grant of Probate: This is a legal document issued by the court to an executor of the estate of a deceased person who left a will providing for what should happen to his estate and further appointing a personal representative (executor).
The appointed person will go to court with the will and supporting documents and obtains a Grant of Probate.
Confirmation of Grant of Probate or Confirmation of Grant of Letters of Administration: This is a document issued by a court naming the beneficiaries and documenting their entitlement to portions of the estate of the deceased.
Letter from the Provincial administration: This is a letter from the chief, DC, or PC confirming certain details about the deceased person and his beneficiaries.
The confirmation will include the full names of the deceased, the area where the deceased was from, and ALL the persons who are beneficiaries of the estate of the deceased.

Follow this Process as Claimant:

As a next if Kin claimant, Safaricom will require you to physical produce the following at a retail centre:
• Your National identification Card;
• Deceased person’s death certificate;
• A Statutory declaration (Affidavit); and
• Letter from provincial administration or
• Confirmation of Grant of Letters of Administration (interstate) or
• Confirmation of Grant of Probate
Once this is done, the Telco will have officially been notified that a subscriber has passed on. Hence, their next step will be to freeze the M-Pesa account. This is a precaution to protect the estate of the deceased.

Furthermore, it prevents the account from being used for any form of transaction.
Thereafter, Safaricom will move to validate the documents provided. In the event that all is in order, funds from M-Pesa will be transferred to the entitled beneficiaries.
However, beneficiaries must also have M-Pesa accounts. Safaricom does not pay out funds using any other money transfer platform.

Next of Kin Claims Categories

The documentation needed to make claims may vary depending on the amount that is available on the deceased person’s M-Pesa account.
Here is the breakdown.

i. Amount between 1 – 30,000
• A duly filled Safaricom next of kin claims form
• Original Death Certificate
• Valid identification by the claimant i.e. Alien ID, National ID, Valid Passport or Military ID
• A Claimant should present either of the below:
a) Affidavit (identifying the claimant) and Letter from chief/Assistant Chief OR
b) Letter from Deputy County Commissioner or County Commissioner OR
c) Letter from Public Trustee OR
d) Letters of Administration/Grant of Probate
ii. Amount between 1 – 200,000
• Duly filled Safaricom next of kin claims form
• Death Certificate
• Original Registration document of Claimant i.e. Alien ID, National ID, Valid Passport or Military ID
• Letter from either of the below:
a) Deputy County Commissioner or County Commissioner OR
b) Public Trustee OR
c) Letters of Administration/Grant of Probate

iii. Amount above 200,000
• Duly filled Safaricom next of kin claims form
• Death Certificate
• Original Registration document of Claimant i.e. Alien ID, National ID, Valid Passport or Military ID
• Letters of Administration/Grant of Probate
Documents to make Claim due to Mental Incapacity
• Court Order
• Original Registration document of Claimant
• Original Registration document of the Incapacitated customer

Documents to make a Claim due to Mental Incapacity

  • Court Order
  • Original Registration document of Claimant
  • Original Registration document of the Incapacitated customer

Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA)


Safaricom operates the M-PESA mobile money transfer service that allows its customers to send and receive money through their registered mobile phones.

In the event funds are not claimed, Safaricom has an obligation to hand them to the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA).
Funds can be unclaimed in M-Pesa if a subscriber passes on and no one claims the funds.

Secondly, when a Safaricom line is abandoned with funds in the M-Pesa account.When this happens, Safaricom archives the M-Pesa account and puts the line back into circulation.


Funds in accounts of the deceased and archived lines due to abandonment are held for a period of 2 years from the date of archiving. Thereafter, Safaricom shall submit the archived funds to the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority.

Upon receiving the money, the authority is expected to launch a fresh search for owners of the assets or their heirs where they are deceased.

One can also claim the funds directly from the authority.

However, once Safaricom hands over the funds to UFAA, they cannot reimburse any next of kin claims.

Set Your Next of Kin

Before all of this, remember to set your next of kin on your M-Pesa. Do this by dialing the USSD *234#. Secondly, select My Mpesa Information followed by Next of Kin.

Do this so that your money is transferred to your beneficiaries smoothly in case you pass on.

Tags: Safaricom
SendShare167Tweet105
Sakwa Kombo

Sakwa Kombo

My Bio is in my written articles.

Related Posts

Mobile Data

Kenya Draws More Tourists as Mobile Data Roaming Soars

July 3, 2025
Safaricom Ethiopia Celebrates Big Win with 10 Million Customers

Safaricom Ethiopia Celebrates Big Win with 10 Million Customers

July 1, 2025
Which ISP is best in Kenya

Kenya’s Best ISP: Faiba Claims the Crown for Fastest Internet

June 30, 2025
the process of setting up an Internet service provider (ISP) in Kenya

Airtel Rises While Safaricom Drops in Network Quality Scores

June 30, 2025
Unified Payment Interface

CBK’s New Fast Payment System Plan Could Rival M-Pesa

June 24, 2025
Kenya Safaricom share sale

Kenya Plans Mega Sale of Safaricom Shares to Raise Over a Billion Dollars

May 26, 2025

Latest

Voter Verification Portal Offline Indefinitely for System Maintenance

IEBC Portal Shutdown for Undisclosed Maintenance Period

July 6, 2025
Infinix Note 50 Pro x Java House Collab

Infinix Teams Up with Java House to Launch Note 50 Pro Series

July 4, 2025
Instagram threads

Instagram Threads Rolls Out Direct Messaging in Major Feature Update

July 4, 2025
Infinix Hot 60i Pre-order

Infinix Hot 60i Now Available for Pre-Order in Kenya

July 4, 2025
Windows

Microsoft’s Windows Usage Slumps as Macs, Linux, and Mobile Take Over

July 4, 2025
Microsoft

Microsoft Slashes 9,100 Jobs in Biggest Layoffs Since 2023

July 4, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

IEBC Portal Shutdown for Undisclosed Maintenance Period

July 6, 2025

Infinix Teams Up with Java House to Launch Note 50 Pro Series

July 4, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Abductions and Arrests! Kenyan Government’s Fear and Hate of X Users Makes No Sense

Actors and Film Crews Are Worried About Veo 3 Taking Their Jobs

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

More News

NASA Brings Space Missions to Netflix at No Extra Cost

iOS 26 May Pause Video if You Start Undressing on FaceTime

Apple Begins Testing Its First Foldable iPhone

Kenya Draws More Tourists as Mobile Data Roaming Soars

Axian Telecom Is Plotting a Full Buyout of Jumia

Kenya’s Cable TV Market Rebounds with 31.5% Growth

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.