This Safaricom guide explains why a simple airtime or bundle transfer can cost more than expected when the recipient still owes money on Okoa Jahazi.
Sambaza credit and Okoa Jahazi have long been used by Kenyans who need to keep talking or browsing when airtime runs low. But the process is not always as straightforward as many users assume, especially when the receiving number has an unpaid advance balance.
The key point is that a customer should first confirm whether the person they are sending credit or bundles to has any outstanding Okoa Jahazi debt. Safaricom’s system can require that balance to be cleared before a transfer goes through.
In practice, the network may prompt the sender to either settle the pending Okoa Jahazi amount and continue with the transfer, or cancel the transaction altogether. That means the final cost can rise above the amount originally intended.
For instance, a customer trying to send bundles worth Ksh100 to another line that still owes Ksh50 on Okoa Jahazi may end up paying Ksh150 in total if they choose to proceed and cover the debt.
The transfer flow also includes a second confirmation step through the M-PESA menu, where the customer is asked to key in a PIN and approve the full amount. If the sender refuses to offset the Okoa Jahazi balance, the transaction fails.
Safaricom users are therefore advised to read each prompt carefully before completing Sambaza transactions. Skipping the steps too quickly can lead to a higher charge than expected or a failed transfer.
To send a data bundle, the guide says users can dial 544#, select 98 to see more options, and then choose option 13 to send a bundle to another customer. At the final stage, the system may also offer the option to add airtime for clearing any outstanding Okoa Jahazi balance.
Customers should pay attention to those prompts so they know exactly how much they are spending before confirming the transaction.
