Updated 23 October 2026
Safaricom rolled out M-Pesa Ratiba on 20 September 2024 so customers can set up standing orders straight from their M-Pesa wallet. This guide covers registering, creating and managing standing orders, and exactly what each payment costs. Ratiba is Swahili for schedule, and that is exactly what it does: it sends money on a schedule you choose, without you having to remember. Rent, school fees, chama contributions, upkeep for parents and subscriptions can all go out automatically.
In this guide
- What Ratiba Can Do
- Step 1: Register for Ratiba
- Step 2: Create a Standing Order
- Example: Setting Up Rent
- What It Costs
- What Standing Orders Cost Over a Year
- How to Manage or Cancel a Standing Order
- What Happens When a Payment Fails
- Choosing Payment Dates
- Good Uses for Ratiba
- Tips
- Ratiba for Businesses and Chamas
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Ratiba Can Do
- Send money daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.
- Work for Send Money, Paybill and Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods.
- Handle each payment of up to KSh 250,000.
- Run between a start date and an end date you set.
- Skip a payment without penalty if your balance is too low.
Step 1: Register for Ratiba
On *334#
- Dial *334#.
- Select M-Pesa Ratiba (option 9 on the menu).
- Select Standing Order Opt In.
- Read and accept the terms and conditions.
- Enter your M-Pesa PIN.
On the M-Pesa App
- Open the M-Pesa app and log in.
- Find M-Pesa Ratiba under Financial Services or Subscriptions.
- Follow the prompts to register and confirm with your PIN.
You receive an SMS confirming you are registered. Registration is free.
Step 2: Create a Standing Order
- Dial *334# and select M-Pesa Ratiba.
- Select Standing Order, then Create a Standing Order.
- Choose the type: Send Money, Paybill or Buy Goods.
- Enter the mobile number, paybill and account number, or till number.
- Enter the amount, up to KSh 250,000.
- Give the standing order a name, such as Rent or School Fees.
- Enter the first and last payment dates.
- Choose how often it runs: daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.
- Check the summary, then confirm with your PIN.
On the app, the same steps appear as screens with fields to fill in, which many people find easier for paybills with long account numbers.
Example: Setting Up Rent
Say your rent is paid to your landlord’s paybill on the 5th of every month, and your lease runs for a year. Create a standing order of the Paybill type, enter the paybill number and the account number your landlord gave you, usually your house number, and enter the rent amount. Name it Rent. Set the first payment date as the next 5th and the last payment date as the 5th of the month your lease ends. Choose monthly. From then on the rent goes out on time every month, and both you and your landlord get confirmation messages.
If your salary arrives on the 1st, this gives you a few days of buffer. If your income comes in on different dates, choose a payment date a few days after money usually arrives, so the order does not fail.
What It Costs
Registering for Ratiba and creating, pausing or deleting a standing order are free. There is a Ratiba charge of KSh 5 for every successful payment, on top of the normal M-Pesa fee for that type of transaction, and no charge when a payment fails because your balance is low. For example, a standing order to a family member costs KSh 5 plus the normal send money fee. The table sums it up, and the calculator shows the normal send money fee for any amount.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ratiba fee per successful payment | KSh 5 |
| Normal M-Pesa fee for that payment | As per the M-Pesa tariff for send money, paybill or buy goods |
| Payment that fails because your balance is too low | No charge |
| Registering, pausing, editing or deleting a standing order | Free |
What Standing Orders Cost Over a Year
Because the KSh 5 is charged on every run, how often a standing order runs matters more than the amount. Three common set-ups:
- Rent to a landlord’s paybill once a month. Each month you pay the normal paybill charge, which depends on the landlord’s paybill, plus KSh 5. Over a year that is 12 Ratiba fees, or KSh 60, on top of the normal charges you would have paid anyway.
- Weekly upkeep of KSh 2,000 to a parent. About 52 payments a year, so KSh 260 in Ratiba fees plus 52 normal send money fees. Switching to one payment of about KSh 8,700 a month cuts it to 12 Ratiba fees and 12 send money fees.
- Daily KSh 100 to a chama or savings paybill. 365 runs a year means KSh 1,825 in Ratiba fees alone, which eats a large share of any interest the savings would earn. A weekly or monthly order is far cheaper.
How to Manage or Cancel a Standing Order
- Open Ratiba on *334# or in the M-Pesa app.
- Open your list of standing orders to see each order with its amount and schedule.
- Select an order to pause it, change it or delete it.
- Confirm with your PIN. Changes take effect from the next scheduled payment.
Pausing is useful for school fees during holidays or rent when you are moving house. Deleting stops the order completely. Neither costs anything.
What Happens When a Payment Fails
If your balance is too low on the payment day, the payment does not go through. There is no penalty from Safaricom, but the person or business you were paying does not receive the money. Top up and pay that instalment manually. Your next scheduled payment will still run on its date.
Choosing Payment Dates
Set each standing order to run a day or two after your salary or business income usually lands, not on the day itself, because salaries sometimes arrive late in the day. If rent is due on the 5th and you are paid on the 28th, schedule the order for the 1st, so the money is there and the landlord is paid early. Spread several large orders across different days so one payment does not leave you short for the next, and remember that all payments on one day count towards the KSh 500,000 daily M-Pesa limit.
Good Uses for Ratiba
- Monthly rent through your landlord’s paybill.
- Weekly upkeep to parents or children in school.
- Monthly savings to a SACCO or chama paybill, so you save before you spend.
- Paying casual staff on a fixed day. If you are hiring, post or find workers on JobinKenya.
- Loan repayments to a lender’s paybill on a fixed date.
Tips
Name each standing order clearly, such as Rent or Mum, so you can manage them easily. Keep your balance topped up the day before payments run. Review your standing orders when your rent or fees change. If you also use Fuliza, remember that a standing order could push you into Fuliza if your balance is short, depending on your settings, so check your Fuliza settings.
Ratiba for Businesses and Chamas
A chama treasurer can ask each member to set up a Ratiba order to the chama’s paybill or till on a fixed day, which makes collections predictable. Landlords and schools benefit too, because tenants and parents who use Ratiba pay on time without reminders. The person paying sets up and controls the order, so the recipient cannot change the amount or date.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did M-Pesa Ratiba launch?
Safaricom launched it in September 2024.
What is the maximum per payment?
KSh 250,000.
How much does M-Pesa Ratiba cost?
KSh 5 per successful payment plus the normal M-Pesa fee for that type of transaction. Registering, pausing and deleting are free.
Does a weekly standing order cost more than a monthly one?
Yes. The KSh 5 fee and the normal fee apply to every run, and a weekly order runs about 52 times a year.
Can I cancel a standing order?
Yes, through the Ratiba menu on *334# or the app.
Does Ratiba charge a penalty for failed payments?
No penalty is charged when a payment fails due to low balance.
Can I use Ratiba for school fees?
Yes, through the school’s paybill.
Can the person I pay change my Ratiba standing order?
No. Only you, as the payer, can create, change, pause or delete your standing orders.
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