Safaricom M-PESA subscribers in Kenya can now receive money transferred directly to their mobile wallets from Western Union consumers in 45 countries and territories. There are more than 80,000 Western Union Agent locations worldwide, in addition to their U.K.-based website westernunion.com.
Apart from the UK, the service is now available from the US, Canada, as well as select countries and territories in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.
This initiative follows the success of M-PESA, a domestic mobile money transfer service in Kenya offered by Safaricom that has attracted more than 13.5 million customers since its launch in 2007.
“We are pleased to extend our service with Safaricom, and we look forward to adding additional functionality for M-PESA users in the near future,” said Jean Claude Farah, Senior Vice President, Middle East and Africa, Western Union.
According to the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenyans living outside their home country sent US$642 million home in 2010 – up from the US$609 million sent home in 2009.
Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said, “Our customers are very proud of the revolutionary M-PESA service, and this partnership sees us pushing new boundaries to continue to keep Kenya at the forefront of the mobile world. Through this partnership, our customers and their friends and families will benefit from affordable, faster and more convenient international remittances, and the money is available to use straightaway for any M-PESA transaction, or can be withdrawn as cash at any of our 24,000 Safaricom agents.”
Western Union also has agreements with other mobile operators and banks to introduce the service in the future.
By Angela Meadon
We would like to introduce http://tuma-pesa.com/ , a Kenyan web-shop that allows Kenyans in the Diaspora to meet needs of families at home easy, fast and secure online.
Kenyans living abroad can support their relatives and friends by sending pesa, airtime, and shopping vouchers using http://tuma-pesa.com/.
In addition, Kenyan internet merchants with businesses located in Kenya can useTuma-Pesa.com as payment portal to receive payments from abroad and donations on blogs.
Compare the costs of Tuma-Pesa.com with other webstores, simular services such as bank transfers and enjoy our continuous special lower rates.
Our office is located in Mtwapa next to Post Office and Tourist Police station. Please do not hesitate to visit our website.
Many thanks,
Eunice Mueni
Online Support
Web: http://tuma-pesa.com
Email: info@tuma-pesa.com