USSD — Africa
Safaricom USSD Codes 2026: Complete List for M-Pesa & Data
Every Safaricom USSD code for 2026: buy SMS bundles (*188#), minutes (*544#), M-Pesa (*334#), Bonga Points (*126#) and more - with step-by-step guides.
Last updated: July 2026
A Safaricom USSD code is a short dial string - like *334# for M-Pesa or *188# for SMS bundles - that opens an interactive menu on any phone, no internet needed. Safaricom subscribers use USSD codes to buy airtime, data, SMS and minutes, borrow emergency credit, and manage their SIM cards.
Safaricom serves more than 47 million subscribers in Kenya (Safaricom FY2025 results), and they dial well over a billion USSD sessions a year. USSD works on every handset - from a KSh 1,000 kabambe to the latest smartphone - which is why these codes remain the fastest way to get things done on your line.
Here are the codes that matter in 2026, verified and grouped by task.
Quick reference: the 10 Safaricom USSD codes you actually use
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| *334# | M-Pesa menu (send money, pay bills, Fuliza, M-Shwari) |
| *544# | Buy data, minutes and All-in-One bundles |
| *188# | Buy SMS bundles |
| *144# | Check airtime balance |
| *126# | Bonga Points |
| *100# | Prepaid self-care menu |
| *131# | Okoa Jahazi emergency airtime |
| *254# | Hustler Fund |
| *232# | SIM registration status |
| *444# | Tunukiwa personalised offers |
How do you dial a Safaricom USSD code?
- Open your phone's dialler (the app you use to make calls).
- Type the full code, including the asterisk (*) and hash (#) - for example *544#.
- Press the call button.
- A menu appears on screen. Reply with the number of the option you want and press Send.
No airtime is charged for opening most menus - you only pay for what you buy inside them.
How do I buy SMS bundles on Safaricom?
To buy SMS bundles on Safaricom, dial *188# and follow the menu:
- Dial *188# on your Safaricom line and press call.
- Select Buy SMS Bundles.
- Choose a validity period: Daily, Weekly or Monthly.
- Pick the bundle you want (for example, 200 SMS at KSh 10, valid 24 hours).
- Choose your payment method: Airtime or M-PESA.
- Confirm. You'll receive an SMS confirming the bundle is loaded.
Safaricom SMS bundle prices (2026)
| Validity | Bundle | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | 20 SMS | KSh 5 |
| Daily | 200 SMS | KSh 10 |
| Daily | Unlimited SMS | KSh 20 |
| Weekly | 100 SMS | KSh 20 |
| Weekly | 1,000 SMS | KSh 30 |
| Weekly | Unlimited SMS | KSh 50 |
| Monthly | 1,500 SMS | KSh 100 |
Prices from Safaricom's published SMS bundle terms; confirm current offers in the *188# menu, the mySafaricom app, or *544#.
Useful *188# shortcuts
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| *188*4# | Buy SMS bundles for another Safaricom number |
| *188*5# | Check your SMS bundle balance |
| *188*6# | Unsubscribe from auto-renewing SMS bundles |
Sending SMS to thousands of customers for a business? A personal bundle won't cut it - you need bulk SMS with a sender ID, which HelloDuty provides alongside USSD.
How do I buy minutes on my Safaricom line?
To buy minutes (voice bundles) on Safaricom, dial *544# and follow the menu:
- Dial *544# on your Safaricom line and press call.
- Select All in One (data + minutes + SMS) or the Calls/Easy Talk option for voice-only bundles.
- Choose a validity period: daily, weekly or monthly.
- Pick the plan with the minutes you need - All-in-One monthly plans start at KSh 100 (20 minutes, 400 MB, 50 SMS) and scale to KSh 10,000 (7,500 minutes, 100 GB, 10,000 SMS).
- Choose your payment method: Airtime or M-PESA.
- Confirm. Your minutes load instantly and you'll get an SMS confirmation.
You can also dial *444# for Tunukiwa personalised offers, which often include discounted minutes based on your usage. To check remaining minutes, dial *544# and select Check Balances. To stop a bundle from auto-renewing, dial *544# and select Stop Auto Renew.
How do I buy data bundles on Safaricom?
- Dial *544# and press call.
- Select the data category you want: daily, weekly, monthly, or 90-day/GIGA plans.
- Pick your bundle and pay with airtime or M-PESA.
- Dial *544*44# to receive your data balance by SMS, or *450# for an on-screen balance.
Other data codes worth knowing:
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| *444# | Tunukiwa offers (discounted data, minutes, SMS) |
| *460# | STORO bonus bundles |
| *445# | Internet/APN settings |
| *400# | Safaricom Home Fibre menu |
| *456# | Unified services menu |
M-Pesa USSD codes
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| *334# | Main M-Pesa menu: send money, withdraw, Lipa na M-Pesa, Fuliza, M-Shwari, KCB M-Pesa, statements |
| *234# | M-Pesa business menu (Lipa na M-Pesa merchants, till management) |
| *144# | Quick/backup M-Pesa menu when *334# is busy |
| *234*1*1# | M-Shwari savings and loans |
Running payments for a business? See our guide to M-Pesa Paybill vs BuyGoods.
Airtime, Sambaza and balance codes
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| *144# | Check airtime balance |
| *141*PIN# | Load airtime from a scratch card |
| *140*Amount*Number# | Sambaza (share) airtime - KSh 5 min, KSh 10,000 max per transaction |
| *130*Number# | Send a "Please Call Me" |
| *100# | Prepaid self-care menu |
| *200# | Postpaid self-care menu |
Bonga Points and loyalty codes
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| *126# | Bonga Points: check balance, redeem for airtime/data/SMS, Lipa na Bonga, transfer points |
| *456*3# | Bonga submenu via unified services |
| *555# | Blaze tariff (under-26s) |
| *411# | Safaricom news and alerts |
Loan and emergency credit codes
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| *131# | Okoa Jahazi - emergency airtime advance |
| *254# | Hustler Fund - government mobile loans (works on Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom) |
| *855# | Okoa Stima - electricity token advance |
| *334# → Loans | Fuliza overdraft, M-Shwari and KCB M-Pesa loans |
The Hustler Fund remains active in 2026 and continues lending from repayments and recovered loans. Read our full Hustler Fund guide.
SIM registration and customer care codes
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| *232# | SIM registration menu |
| *106# | Check SIM registration status |
| *485# | Safaricom Business Solutions |
| 100 | Prepaid customer care (toll-free call) |
| 200 | Postpaid customer care (toll-free call) |
| 234 | M-Pesa customer care (toll-free call) |
| +254 722 002 100 | Customer care from a non-Safaricom line |
Voicemail, call barring and privacy codes
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| *222# | Activate voicemail |
| ##002# | Deactivate voicemail and call diverts |
| *62*0722199199# | Activate missed-call alerts |
| ##62# | Deactivate missed-call alerts |
| *33*0000# / #33*0000# | Bar / unbar outgoing calls (default password 0000) |
| *331*0000# / #331*0000# | Bar / unbar international calls |
| *35*0000# / #35*0000# | Bar / unbar incoming calls |
| *35*0000*16# / #35*0000*16# | Bar / unbar incoming SMS |
| #330*0000# | Remove all barring |
| *100*5*5*1# | Unsubscribe from marketing messages |
| *100*5*4# | Unsubscribe from promotional SMS |
How can a business get its own USSD code in Kenya?
The codes above belong to Safaricom. Businesses can run their own - think *384*123# for surveys, loan applications, airtime distribution, or customer registration that works on every phone in Kenya, no app required.
To launch one you need a licensed USSD aggregator, a shortcode leased through the Communications Authority of Kenya, and software to build the menus. HelloDuty handles all three: we provision Safaricom-compatible shortcodes (dedicated or shared), give you a drag-and-drop menu builder, and connect responses straight into your CRM, SMS and WhatsApp campaigns.
Kenyan businesses use HelloDuty USSD for everything from chama registrations to solar-equipment sales in areas where smartphone penetration is low - SunCulture's agents, for example, close sales on feature phones far from the nearest town.
Get your own USSD code with HelloDuty →
Frequently asked questions
What is the USSD code for buying SMS on Safaricom?
Dial *188#, select Buy SMS Bundles, choose daily, weekly or monthly, then pay with airtime or M-PESA. Daily bundles start at KSh 5 for 20 SMS. Dial *188*5# to check your SMS balance.
How do I buy minutes on my Safaricom line?
Dial *544#, choose All in One or a voice/Easy Talk bundle, select your plan, and pay with airtime or M-PESA. Your minutes load instantly with an SMS confirmation. Dial *444# for discounted Tunukiwa minute offers.
What is the M-Pesa USSD code?
Dial *334# for the full M-Pesa menu - send money, withdraw cash, Lipa na M-Pesa, Fuliza, M-Shwari and statements. If *334# is busy, *144# opens a backup menu.
How do I check my airtime balance on Safaricom?
Dial *144# and press call. Your balance appears on screen. For data balances, dial *544*44# to get the details by SMS.
Can I buy SMS bundles for another Safaricom number?
Yes. Dial *188*4#, enter the recipient's number, choose the bundle, and pay with your airtime or M-PESA. The bundle loads on their line immediately.
What is the Hustler Fund USSD code?
Dial *254# on Safaricom, Airtel or Telkom to register, borrow, repay and check your Hustler Fund limit. The fund is still active in 2026.
How do I stop Safaricom bundles from auto-renewing?
Dial *544# and select Stop Auto Renew for data, minute and All-in-One bundles. For SMS bundles, dial *188*6# to unsubscribe.
Can my business get its own USSD code like *544#?
Yes. Any registered Kenyan business can lease a USSD shortcode through a licensed aggregator. HelloDuty provides Safaricom-compatible dedicated and shared shortcodes with a no-code menu builder - see how it works.
Pro-tip
Are you ready to get started? Sign up here for a demo of the HelloDuty CRM and customer engagement automation software now.
It works for our customer SunCulture. We help agents sell solar. It takes a few hours, not months, to design and build new ideas.
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