Sambaza is Safaricom’s service for sending airtime from your line to another Safaricom number. It is useful when a friend or family member runs out of credit and you want to help them. This guide explains how to use Sambaza, the costs involved, Okoa implications, and how it compares to other methods like sending money via M‑PESA or using a reseller till to gift bundles directly.
📑 In this guide
How to Sambaza Airtime (Step‑by‑Step)
- Dial *544# on your Safaricom line.
- Select Sambaza Airtime (option 4 on the main menu).
- Enter the recipient’s Safaricom phone number.
- Enter the amount you wish to send (minimum Ksh 5).
- Confirm the transaction – the airtime is deducted from your balance and added to the recipient’s line instantly.
You will receive a confirmation SMS, and the recipient will also get a notification.
Sambaza Costs and Limits
- Minimum amount: Ksh 5
- Maximum amount per transaction: Ksh 5,000 (may vary by account level)
- Daily limit: Ksh 10,000
- Fee: No extra charge – the recipient gets exactly the amount you send.
You must have sufficient airtime balance on your own line to send. If you have Okoa Jahazi debt, you can still Sambaza using your available airtime (the debt does not block sending, but you cannot send more than your current balance).
Does Sambaza Work with Okoa Jahazi?
Yes – you can Sambaza airtime even if you have an outstanding Okoa loan, as long as your available airtime balance is enough to cover the send amount. The debt does not prevent you from sharing your existing credit. However, if you have no airtime because it was all used to repay the loan, you will need to top up first.
Alternative: Sending Value via M‑PESA Send Money
If the recipient is not on Safaricom, or if you want them to have cash that they can use for anything (not just airtime), you can send money via M‑PESA Send Money. Steps:
- M‑PESA → Send Money → Enter recipient’s number → Amount → PIN.
- The recipient receives cash and can then buy airtime or bundles themselves.
This method works for any network (as long as the recipient has an M‑PESA account) and is also free. The downside: the recipient might use the money for other purposes.
Best Way to Give Bundles Instead of Plain Airtime
If you want to give data or minutes rather than plain airtime, consider using a reseller till like 509947. You can buy a bundle for the recipient’s number instantly, and it will work even if they have Okoa debt. Steps:
- Visit the BingwaSokoni website and select “Gift a Friend”.
- Choose the bundle and enter the recipient’s Safaricom number.
- Pay via M‑PESA Lipa na M‑PESA → Buy Goods → Till 509947 → exact amount.
- The recipient gets the data or minutes bundle immediately.
This is often more valuable than sending plain airtime, because discounted bundles give much more data or minutes per shilling.
Comparison: Sambaza vs. Send Money vs. Reseller Gift
| Method | Recipient Network | What They Get | Okoa Friendly? | Fees | Sambaza | Safaricom only | Plain airtime | ✅ Yes (sender’s balance) | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M‑PESA Send Money | Any M‑PESA user | Cash | ✅ Yes | Free |
| Reseller Gift (Till 509947) | Safaricom or Airtel | Data/minutes bundles (discounted) | ✅ Yes (bypasses Okoa on recipient side) | Free |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions – Sambaza Airtime
No – Sambaza is only for sending to another Safaricom number. To top up your own line, use M‑PESA or buy a bundle directly.
Ksh 5. This is the smallest airtime amount you can send to another Safaricom user.
Yes – you can only send what you have available as airtime balance. The Okoa loan does not block the transaction.
Yes – use a reseller till like 509947 to buy a discounted data bundle for them. For example, 1GB for Ksh 19 is far more valuable than Ksh 19 of plain airtime.
