Running low on cash or M-Pesa balance does not have to stop you from paying at the till. Safaricom’s Lipa na Data service lets eligible customers convert their unused data bundles into payment for goods, services, and utility bills at participating merchants, no cash or M-Pesa deposit required.
The service has been quietly available since 2023, but many Safaricom subscribers still don’t know it exists or how to use it properly. Here’s exactly how it works, who qualifies, and what to do if you don’t meet the requirements.
Who Actually Qualifies for Lipa na Data
Not every Safaricom line can use this service. You need a data balance of at least 5GB to transact at all, and the type of bundle matters too.
Prepaid customers must be on Neo, or no-expiry, bundles above 5GB. Postpaid customers need to be on a Go-Monthly Postpay or Karibu PostPay DIY data plan.
If your balance falls short of 5GB or your bundle type doesn’t qualify, the system will simply notify you that you’re not eligible rather than letting the transaction proceed. According to Safaricom’s official Lipa na Data FAQ, there are no additional charges for using the service beyond the data value itself.
How to Pay a Merchant With Your Data
Dial *544*34# directly, or dial *544# and select option 0 to reach the same menu. From there, select Lipa na Data, then choose whether you’re paying via Buy Goods using the merchant’s Till number, or via Pay Bill.
Enter the merchant’s Till or Paybill number along with the amount you want to pay. The system converts that shilling amount into its data equivalent and shows you the exchange before asking you to confirm.
You then accept or decline the transaction. Once confirmed, the payment goes through instantly using your data balance instead of cash or M-Pesa funds, and you’ll receive an SMS confirmation just as you would with a standard M-Pesa payment.
How Much Data Your Money Is Worth
The service includes a built-in bundle calculator so you always know what you’re spending before you confirm. As a reference point, Sh500 has historically converted to roughly 7.7GB of data, meaning larger purchases require a correspondingly large data balance to complete.
This is worth keeping in mind if you’re planning to rely on Lipa na Data for anything beyond small, everyday purchases like groceries or fuel. Checking your exact balance before you shop avoids the awkward moment of having a transaction declined at the till.
Checking Your Data Balance Before You Shop
To see exactly how much data you have available, dial *544#, select Lipa na Data, then choose View Bundles. This shows your current balance so you can confirm you have enough before attempting a purchase.
If you’d rather get your balance by text, dialling *544*44# sends your data balance details directly via SMS, useful if you’re already at the till and need a quick check without navigating the full menu.
No Data? Try Lipa na Bonga Instead
If your data balance doesn’t meet the 5GB threshold, Safaricom offers a similar alternative through loyalty points. Dial *126# to access Lipa na Bonga, select Buy Goods or Pay Bill, enter the merchant’s Till or Paybill number and the transaction amount, then enter your Service PIN to complete the payment using your accumulated Bonga Points instead of data or cash.
This service works specifically for customers enrolled in Safaricom’s Bonga loyalty programme, so it’s worth checking your Bonga Points balance ahead of time by dialling *126# and selecting the balance check option.
Why This Matters for Everyday Kenyans
For the millions of Kenyans who let unused data bundles expire every month, Lipa na Data offers a genuinely practical way to extract value from data that would otherwise go to waste. It’s also a useful backup option when you’ve run out of both cash and M-Pesa float but still have a healthy data balance sitting unused on your line.
Combined with Lipa na Bonga, Safaricom now offers Kenyans three distinct ways to pay at participating merchants beyond standard cash: through M-Pesa, through data, or through loyalty points, giving subscribers real flexibility depending on what resources they actually have available at the point of sale.
Also read:Safaricom Cuts M-Pesa Business Fees by Up to 50% From August 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much data do I need to use Lipa na Data?
You need a minimum data balance of 5GB to qualify for the service. Prepaid users need Neo, no-expiry, bundles above that threshold, while postpaid users need to be on a Go-Monthly Postpay or Karibu PostPay DIY plan.
Does Lipa na Data charge extra fees?
No. According to Safaricom’s official FAQ, there are no additional charges for using Lipa na Data beyond the value of the data bundle used to complete the transaction.
Can I convert my data into cash using Lipa na Data?
No. Lipa na Data is designed specifically for paying merchants who accept the service directly. You cannot use it to withdraw or convert your data balance into cash.
What can I pay for using Lipa na Data?
You can use it to pay for groceries, fuel, utility bills, and other purchases at any merchant that accepts Lipa na Data through their Till number or Paybill.
What happens if I don’t have enough data for a purchase?
The system will notify you that your balance is insufficient, and you will need to either top up your data or reduce the transaction amount before you can complete the payment.
Is Lipa na Data safe to use?
Yes. The service uses Safaricom’s standard security systems, including PIN confirmation and SMS notifications, to verify and protect every transaction, the same protections used across M-Pesa services.
What if I don’t qualify for Lipa na Data?
If your data balance or bundle type doesn’t meet the eligibility requirements, you can use Lipa na Bonga instead by dialling *126# and paying with your accumulated Bonga Points at any participating merchant.