By Eldoret Leo 
In a country where mobile money is woven into everyday life, transparency is not optional. It is essential. Fuliza, the overdraft service by Safaricom on M-PESA, has become a financial lifeline for millions of Kenyans. It keeps transactions moving when balances run low. But beneath this convenience lies a growing concern: users do not fully understand what Fuliza is costing them over time.
Back in 2022, daily borrowing on Fuliza had already surged to KSh 1.4 billion per day, according to Nation reporting. That figure alone signaled how deeply embedded the service had become in everyday transactions. Fast forward to 2026, and all indicators suggest that usage has only increased which is largely driven by a rising cost of living, tighter household budgets, and a growing dependence on short-term credit.
This is no longer just about access. It is about scale.
As Fuliza usage grows into billions of shillings daily, the lack of clear cost visibility becomes more dangerous. Users can access funds instantly, but they cannot easily see, in one place, how much they are paying over time. There is no simple monthly statement showing total borrowing, total charges, and outstanding balances.
This is where the conversation shifts toward predatory lending patterns. Not necessarily by design, but by effect.
Fuliza operates on small daily charges that feel negligible. A few shillings a day appears harmless. But over weeks, these costs accumulate significantly. It is small-small lending subtle, consistent but compounding. Many users do not track how often they rely on Fuliza or how much those daily charges add up to over a month.
Even more concerning is the psychological framing. Fuliza appears as available money in a user’s balance, creating the illusion of financial capacity. In reality, it is debt which is actively accruing charges. Without clear monthly summaries, this distinction becomes blurred, encouraging repeated use.
A monthly Fuliza statement would not eliminate the service, it would strengthen it. By clearly showing total usage and total charges, Safaricom would ensure users are making more informed financial decisions.
Fuliza has solved a real problem. But as its usage scales, so must transparency.
Because as Kenyans we do not just need access to credit, we need clarity on the true cost of this credit.
