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From 1 October 2026, Safaricom and Pesapal announced two M-PESA checkout options using Pesapal POS devices in Kenya: customers can scan a dynamic QR code displayed on the terminal or tap an NFC-enabled smartphone on it. With Scan-to-Pay, merchant details and the amount are populated for review; with Tap-to-Pay, customers check the transaction details after tapping. The announcement describes the flows, but does not publish device compatibility lists, fees, or a general availability schedule.
How the two checkout options work
Both options connect a customer’s M-PESA payment to a merchant checkout on a Pesapal POS, but they start with different actions.
| Detail | Dynamic Scan-to-Pay | Tap-to-Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Customer action | Scan the QR code displayed on the Pesapal POS. | Tap an NFC-enabled smartphone on the Pesapal POS. |
| Payment details | Merchant details and amount are populated for the customer to verify. | The customer checks the transaction details after tapping. |
| Published device condition | A phone that can scan the displayed QR code is implied; no model or app requirements are specified. | The phone must be NFC-enabled; no model or operating-system requirements are specified. |
| Flow source | Pesapal’s announcement and merchant explainer, both dated 1 October 2026: announcement and merchant explainer. | |
Dynamic Scan-to-Pay
- The merchant presents a QR code on a Pesapal POS.
- The customer scans the code.
- The payment flow populates the merchant details and amount.
- The customer verifies the details and completes the M-PESA payment.
Safaricom’s announcement describes an existing Scan-to-Pay option as using a QR code linked directly to a merchant M-PESA Till Number. The new Dynamic Scan-to-Pay flow puts the QR code on the Pesapal POS and also populates the amount, so the customer can check the payment details before completing it. The source does not specify which app or app version is needed, how errors are handled, or which merchants have the new flow enabled.
Tap-to-Pay
- The customer uses an NFC-enabled smartphone and taps it on the Pesapal POS.
- The customer reviews the transaction details.
- The customer completes the payment.
NFC is the only phone capability requirement explicitly stated in the reviewed announcement. It does not name compatible phone models or operating-system versions, or explain any additional setup or enrollment. A phone being NFC-enabled alone should therefore not be treated as proof that it is compatible with the service.
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How this differs from AI Pay in My OneApp
AI Pay is a separate feature Safaricom described for My OneApp; it is not another name for Scan-to-Pay or Tap-to-Pay on a Pesapal POS. With AI Pay, a customer can scan a printed or handwritten receipt. Where available, the feature identifies and populates Till or PayBill details and the amount. The announcement does not provide an error rate or detailed availability conditions, so it does not establish that every receipt can be read or every transaction can be completed this way. Safaricom and Pesapal’s announcement describes both the checkout options and AI Pay.
What the rollout announcement says about availability
Safaricom reported that Scan-to-Pay was already available at more than 60,000 merchant outlets as of its 1 October 2026 announcement. It also set a target of 500,000 outlets within the next year. The first number is a company-reported baseline, while the second is a goal—not a confirmed rollout result or guarantee. Neither figure establishes that Dynamic Scan-to-Pay or Tap-to-Pay is active at every outlet included in the baseline.
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The announcement says Pesapal POS devices would enable the two checkout flows, but does not give a staged rollout calendar or say that all existing Pesapal terminals are enabled. The merchant and customer details needed to determine eligibility at a specific checkout are not published in the reviewed materials.
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Because the public descriptions omit operational details, customers should look for the option at the point of payment and review the displayed transaction details before confirming. Merchants considering the feature should confirm directly with Pesapal or Safaricom whether their account and POS setup are enabled.
Rank #3
- A 12.5” HD merchant facing touchscreen with Android software
- A 4.3” customer facing display
- An EMV chip card, NFC contactless, and magstripe reader.
- PIN debit.
- 4G and WiFi connectivity
- Eligibility: The announcement does not specify which merchants or accounts qualify.
- Terminal support: No POS model list or specification is published, and support across all existing devices is not established.
- Phone compatibility: Tap-to-Pay is described as requiring NFC, but no model or operating-system compatibility list is provided. Scan-to-Pay requirements beyond scanning the QR are not detailed.
- Fees and settlement: The reviewed materials do not state transaction fees or settlement timing.
- Availability: No general availability schedule or precise activation dates by merchant are given.
What the partnership does—and does not—establish
The announcement brings Pesapal’s merchant payment infrastructure together with Safaricom’s M-PESA payment features for physical checkout. Safaricom Group Chief Technology Officer James Maitai described the partnership as part of a broader effort to evolve everyday M-PESA payments. Pesapal founder Agosta Liko called the changes a leap for checkout and described the expected transactions as “error-free.” That phrase is Liko’s promotional characterization; the announcement does not provide independent performance measurements or test results.
The two companies’ statements explain the intended payment flows and their rollout ambition. They do not establish universal terminal support, a customer fee, a particular settlement schedule, or that every merchant can offer both methods.
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- Important Order Information - The purchase of this listing requires a new merchant account to be set up with SwyftPAY. Please contact us prior to purchasing if you have any questions.
- Accept payments – fast, contactless, and in style
- Security baked right in Every payment you accept is end-end encrypted, and your data is kept safe according to the most stringent industry standards. Poynt is fully PCI DSS and PCI PTS certified.
- Accessories galore Poynt smart terminals play nice with all your favorite accessories including wired and wireless printers, cash drawers, and barcode scanners, so you can focus on selling.
- Accept payments in minutes.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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