Airtel Kenya Rewards Mobile Money Users with Free Airtime

Research has shown that Kenyans use digital loans more frequently for airtime than other essentials like emergency medical care.

The financial stability assessment from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) revealed that airtime accounted for 15% of digital loans, trailing only business (37%), daily needs (25%) and education (20%).

According to the survey, farmers top the list of airtime borrowers, although employees in both temporary and regular jobs also use these loans at around the same rate.

Another World Bank study showed that many of Kenya's hustlers would prefer to go without food and walk to work than to have limited airtime.

The research indicated that seven out of 10 individuals at the bottom of the pyramid reduced their food expenditures to allocate more money for mobile airtime.

Why Airtel subscribers have a reason to smile

Amid financial hardships, Airtel Kenya has come to the rescue of cash-strapped Kenyans, offering Airtel money users a refund of their withdrawal transaction fees in the form of airtime.

Why incur additional expenses on transaction fees when you can achieve savings using Airtel Money?

Airtel customers withdrawing money from any Airtel money agent will receive the equivalent withdrawal transaction fee back as airtime.

Under the initiative, known as the 'Rudishiwa Transaction Fee Campaign,' the telecommunications company will ensure that Airtel Money users withdrawing any amount between KSh 50 and the daily limit of KSh 500,000 at an Airtel Money agent will receive a refund for their withdrawal transaction fee.

This means if an Airtel Money customer withdraws KSh 1,000, they will receive KSh 25 as airtime, which can be spent to buy data bundles, SMS or voice call minutes.

Airtel Networks Kenya Limited managing director Ashish Malhotra explained that the campaign would enable customers to stay connected while saving money.

"The new ‘Rudishiwa Transaction Fee Campaign’ cements our commitment to designing products and solutions that serve multiple needs of the user in the market. We believe that the campaign will go a long way to cater to the needs of Kenyans who rely on cash for their daily transactions, helping them stay connected while saving them money,” Malhotra said. 

Airtel Money increased its per transaction limit from KSh 150,000 to KSh 250,000 to enable customers to do large transactions conveniently. It is also notable that sending money from an Airtel Money customer to another is free of charge.