Safaricom announced a new data minimization feature on its mobile money platform, M-Pesa, aimed at enhancing user privacy by partially masking customer phone numbers during transactions.
The update, approved by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), is set to roll out on March 24.
It applies to Till, PayBill, and peer-to-peer payments, reducing the exposure of personal data during transactions.
Under the new system, M-Pesa transaction notifications to merchants will no longer display the full phone number of the customer.
Instead, only partial digits will be visible, while the first two names of the sender will be displayed. The three middle digits of the mobile number will be masked.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa explained that customers who need full details of the sender will have a 24-hour window to request this information.
“We have an obligation to ensure maximum digital security for our customers. This feature is a major step in the right direction towards fighting fraud,” Ndegwa said.
The move comes as digital security continues to be a priority for mobile money platforms in Kenya, a country widely regarded as a global leader in mobile money adoption.
Safaricom’s latest feature aims to strengthen trust and protect users against potential fraud while maintaining convenient access to mobile financial services.
