Safaricom has confirmed a disruption in its Fuliza service, leaving many M-PESA users surprised when their debts were not automatically deducted after receiving money. The company acknowledged the issue on September 30 and urged customers to report any challenges they encounter.
Customers quickly took to social media to express frustration and confusion. Many noted that after receiving deposits, their Fuliza debts remained untouched, allowing balances to stay higher than expected.
What Did Safaricom Say About the Fuliza Glitch?
In response to complaints, Safaricom explained that technical delays were causing the repayment deductions to stall. “Hello, sorry for the challenge experienced, there is ongoing delays on deduction for Fuliza but our technical team is checking on it,” the company stated.
One X user, Big Youth, complained, “Safaricom it’s been an hour since I deposited my account. Deduct your Fuliza or forever hold your peace. Nataka kutumia balance (I want to use the balance).” Safaricom responded directly, assuring him that resolution was underway and apologizing for the inconvenience.
Other customers reported similar issues. Solo Leveling said they received Ksh2,000 on M-PESA, but the system failed to deduct a Ksh1,650 Fuliza balance.
Are Other M-PESA Services Affected?
The disruption has fueled wider concerns about M-PESA services following Safaricom’s recent system upgrade. “All the services fully restored have a problem, right Safaricom?” asked a user named Elnas. The company again apologized and promised an urgent follow-up.
Another complaint came from Mr. International, who claimed to have bought a new SIM card that already carried Okoa Jahazi and Fuliza debts. Safaricom advised him to dial *334# to refresh his Fuliza limit, clarifying that loan reviews are handled at the bank’s discretion.
While Safaricom works on restoring normal service, customers continue to monitor their balances closely. The outage has sparked a wave of memes and debates online, highlighting just how central Fuliza has become to daily financial life in Kenya.
By Yockshard Enyendi