Airtel Kenya is mulling the launch of a digital overdraft service on Airtel Money, which will ensure a direct challenge to Safaricom’s Fuliza, which dominates Kenya’s short-term mobile credit market.
The nation’s second-largest telecommunications company announced that it is nearing the completion of necessary regulatory and partner approvals, with plans to launch the service in the first quarter. This feature will enable Airtel Money users to conduct transactions even if their wallet balance is low, with the overdrawn amount being automatically deducted once funds are available.
Overdraft limits will be determined by each customer’s activity and transaction history, mirroring the approach established by Safaricom in 2019. Airtel mentioned that it is coordinating with various stakeholders for the approvals, but did not disclose its lending partners.
This initiative would disrupt Safaricom’s dominance in mobile money overdrafts, a service that many Kenyans now rely on for everyday expenses. Airtel has indicated that its product will feature reduced fees, in contrast to Fuliza, which has evolved into a significant revenue source for Safaricom.
The number of active Fuliza users increased by 22% to 9.1 million in the six months leading up to September 2025. Borrowing during this timeframe reached KES 629.2 billion, representing a 40% increase from the previous year.
