Daraja API is an Application Programming Interface that creates a bridge for payment integration to web and mobile apps. In a web app, it is the API that enables a client to initiate payment by pressing a button.
Through Daraja, businesses can integrate both Lipa Na M-PESA Buy Goods and PayBill cashless payments into mobile phone applications, websites, point-of-sale terminals, and other business solutions.
For example, that is how you can pay for E-Citizen Services through Lipa Na M-Pesa.
Safaricom has announced a planned upgrade on Daraja API. In a statement shared with registered developers, the company said:
“As part of these ongoing enhancements, we will be carrying out planned maintenance on the Daraja Platform from Sunday 24th September 2023 to Thursday 28th September 2023.
During the four days of maintenance Developer sign-up, Company sign-up, Sandbox App creation, and Production Go-live will be unavailable.
Go-live is the point at which code moves from the test environment to the production environment. At the time of the go-live, a system is officially and formally available to users who can then initiate transactions in the new system. What this means is that companies and their developers will have to freeze any new M-Pesa integrations with their systems.
Importantly, all M-Pesa transactions will not be affected. Hence, M-Pesa users and companies that have already integrated M-Pesa need not worry.
Importance of Daraja API
M-Pesa has proved to be an integral Fintech solution for many people across Africa. Today, the M-Pesa ecosystem serves more than 59 million customers across the continent. According, to Safaricom, more than 70,000 developers have used the M-Pesa Open APIs.
This means the Daraja API is an important bridge for many businesses, especially fintech’s across Africa. No doubt the freeze will be felt by companies looking to provide more efficient business solutions to their clients.
However, Safaricom urges that the move is for the greater good. In the the statement, the telco adds “to provide you and our customers with more innovations and an even better experience.”
