Safaricom has reminded Kenyans using its Fuliza M-PESA overdraft service that they can request a review of their borrowing limits directly from their mobile phones, following renewed questions from customers seeking access to more credit.
In a response shared on Tuesday, October 13, the telecommunications company directed customers to dial a USSD code and follow a short sequence of menu options to request a review. The clarification comes as some M-PESA users continue to express frustration over low borrowing limits, with others reporting that their limits have remained unchanged despite regularly using the service.
For customers who rely on Fuliza to complete payments when their M-PESA balances run short, the guidance offers a straightforward way to ask for their limits to be reassessed without visiting a Safaricom shop.
However, the company has cautioned that requesting a review does not automatically translate into a higher limit. The decision depends on an automated assessment conducted at the discretion of the financial institutions behind the service.
How to Request a Higher Fuliza Limit
Safaricom has outlined a simple procedure that eligible customers can follow using their mobile phones. No separate application or visit to a physical office is required to initiate the review.
Customers can follow these steps:
1. Open the phone’s dialler and dial *334#.
2. Select option 00 for Fuliza M-PESA.
3. Choose the Refresh My Limit option from the menu.
4. Follow any additional prompts displayed on the phone.
5. Wait for a notification from Fuliza regarding the review.
The process allows customers to request a reassessment of their existing borrowing limit through Safaricom’s official USSD service. The exact menu wording may vary depending on the available options displayed to the customer.
Customers should use the official USSD menu rather than relying on links circulated through unofficial websites or social media pages claiming to increase Fuliza limits instantly.
Safaricom Explains Who Determines Fuliza Limits
One of the most important clarifications from Safaricom is that the telecommunications company does not independently decide whether a customer’s Fuliza limit should increase.
The limit is determined through an automated credit-scoring process overseen by the banking partners responsible for the overdraft facility. The assessment considers information relating to a customer’s account activity and borrowing behaviour.
This means that two customers who use M-PESA regularly may receive different Fuliza limits because their transaction histories and credit profiles are not necessarily identical.
A customer who has maintained an active Safaricom line for several years may still have a low limit if their account activity or repayment record does not meet the criteria applied by the credit assessment system.
Similarly, customers should not assume that making a request will lead to an immediate adjustment. Safaricom has not provided a universal timeline within which every requested review must produce a decision.
The company has encouraged customers to continue using its services responsibly while waiting for their accounts to be reassessed.
Factors That May Influence Your Fuliza Limit
Although Safaricom does not allow customers to select the amount they want to borrow, account activity and repayment behaviour can influence their eligibility for a higher limit.
Several factors may be relevant to the assessment.
1. Regular M-PESA transactions
Using M-PESA for legitimate everyday transactions contributes to the activity recorded on a customer’s account. Safaricom has encouraged customers to continue using its services, although frequent transactions alone do not guarantee an increase.
2. Repayment behaviour
Repaying borrowed funds promptly is an important part of maintaining a positive borrowing history. Customers who delay repayment may find it more difficult to qualify for higher limits, and their existing limits may be reduced.
3. Airtime usage
Safaricom has also referred to customers’ airtime usage when explaining how borrowing limits may be reviewed. The overall assessment considers multiple indicators rather than relying on one activity in isolation.
4. Broader credit profile
The credit assessment may consider other relevant credit information and a customer’s history with associated financial services. The precise weight assigned to individual factors is not publicly disclosed.
Customers should therefore focus on maintaining responsible financial habits rather than attempting to manipulate their accounts in the hope of securing a larger overdraft.
Can You Increase Fuliza by Opting In and Out?
Some customers have attempted to increase their borrowing limits by opting out of Fuliza and subsequently activating it again.
However, this approach can backfire. In September 2026, a customer reported that attempting the opt-in and opt-out method resulted in a zero borrowing limit instead of the anticipated increase. Safaricom has warned that limits are determined through its assessment process, not through tricks involving repeated activation and deactivation.
Customers should avoid experimenting with account settings based on unverified claims circulating online. There is no reliable guarantee that opting out and rejoining will increase an existing limit.
The recommended approach is to use the official limit-review option and allow the assessment process to determine whether an adjustment is warranted.
Warning Against Fake Fuliza Limit-Increase Websites
The renewed interest in higher Fuliza limits has also created opportunities for fraudsters to target borrowers seeking quick access to credit.
Some unofficial websites and social media pages have claimed that customers can increase their limits instantly by providing their phone numbers, selecting a desired loan amount or paying an access fee.
Africa Check has investigated such claims and found that fraudulent pages use promises of instant increases to attract users to suspicious links. Safaricom has clarified that its credit-scoring system cannot be manually adjusted through third-party websites.
Kenyans should never disclose their M-PESA PIN, one-time passwords or other confidential account information to individuals promising to increase their Fuliza limits.
They should also avoid paying strangers to perform a review that can be requested through the official Safaricom menu.
Where a website promises a guaranteed increase from zero to thousands of shillings after payment, customers should treat the claim as a serious warning sign.
What Is Fuliza M-PESA?
Fuliza is an overdraft facility offered through M-PESA in partnership with KCB Bank and NCBA Bank. It enables eligible customers to complete supported transactions even when their M-PESA wallets do not contain sufficient funds.
When a qualifying transaction exceeds the available balance, Fuliza can cover the shortfall within the customer’s approved limit. The borrowed amount is then recovered when money becomes available in the M-PESA account, subject to the service’s terms and charges.
The facility has become a familiar part of Kenya’s mobile money ecosystem because it offers short-term credit without requiring customers to visit a bank branch for each transaction.
Nevertheless, Fuliza remains a borrowing service rather than free money. Customers should understand the applicable charges, repayment requirements and consequences of outstanding balances before relying on it.
A higher limit may provide additional flexibility when handling urgent expenses, but it can also make it easier to accumulate debt that becomes difficult to repay.
Safaricom’s latest guidance gives Kenyans a straightforward way to request a review of their Fuliza limits without leaving their homes.
By dialling *334#, selecting option 00 and choosing Refresh My Limit, customers can initiate the review through the official M-PESA menu.
However, the outcome remains subject to the relevant bank’s assessment, and no increase is guaranteed. Responsible use of M-PESA, timely repayment and caution when dealing with unofficial websites remain important for anyone hoping to qualify for additional credit.
For customers whose limits remain low, the most sensible step is to request an official review, maintain sound repayment habits and avoid shortcuts that promise guaranteed increases.
