Prifad.com Kenya Discussion Board - Recent Posts

RE: What to do after buying a new Safaricom SIM card

PrifadKE — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 22:51:44 +0000

Here are a few things to do as a new Safaricom subscriber

Top up your new line. You can buy a Safaricom scratch card of any amount / denomination and use the *141*PIN# to top up your line. Alternatively, you can buy airtime for your line via M-PESA. You can also send airtime (sambaza - via *140*Amount*Your New Phone Number#) from another Safaricom line to your new line.

This is particularly easy to do if you already have another Safaricom line on your smartphone, and you bought a second line for your modem / business / Mi-Fi router / feature phone or tablet. Once you top up your line, check balances by dialing *144#.
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Register for M-PESA
Once you pay the amount needed to get a new Safaricom SIM card (usually costs KSh 50 - 100), request the Safaricom agent / Safaricom Shop attendant to activate M-PESA on your new line. Provide sufficient ID to hasten the process. It is free to regsiter a Safaricom M-PESA account.

Check subscriptions
Check for any active subscriptions on your line. If there are any, opt out to stop any of the unwanted subscriptions from draining your airtime.
Dial *100#
Select 5:My Subscriptions
1: Active Subscriptions
To stop promotional messages, select 2: Promotional Messages > 1:Stop by Sender or 2: Stop All Promtional Messages

Enroll for Bonga Points
Accumulate points as you use your new line to browse the web, send SMS or make calls. Redeem these points for devices such as smartphones / data bundles / voice bundles and SMS bundles. Use your Bonga Points to pay for things you purchase online and offline as well.
Dial *100#
Go to 3:Products and Services
Then 1:Bonga
Use this menu to enroll for Bonga Points, redeem Bonga Points or Lipa na Bonga.

Activate data manager
To avoid draining your airtime balance whenever you turn on internet connectivity on your device, activate Safaricom data manager. You won't be able to browse the web unless you have purchased a data bundle. You can activate or deactivate the data manager anytime you want.
Dial *544#
Select 98:MORE
Then reply with 6:Balance & Tips
Reply with 2 or which number that corresponds to the My Data Manager option
Then choose Activate / Deactivate / Check Status

Register for Stori Ibambe
Dial *460# to subscribe
Access more offers by hitting your daily target. Get 100% airtime bonus.
Use this shortcode to check your target, check daily spend and also your STORO Bonus balance once you have subscribed.

Check for various offers tailored by Safaricom just for you. Regularly dial *444#, *544# or *100# to find out what new offers / deals Safaricom has in store for you. Find data, voice and SMS offers. You can buy these offers for your own personal use or gift some of them to another Safaricom user (family / friend).

Common Safaricom USSD codes
Get to know some of the most common Safaricom USSD shortcodes
*100# and *456# for your account details (balances / phone number), getting PUK, Bonga, products and services, stopping promotional messages / subscriptions, buying bundles etc.
*144# for checking your airtime balance
*544# fo buying voice, SMS and data bundles etc.
*188# for buying SMS bundles
*444# for Tunukiwa offers - data, voice and text offers tailored just for you
*334# for your M-PESA account. Use this to access your M-PESA menu. Access more M-PESA menu items on *234#

Download and install the My Safaricom app and the Safaricom M-PESA app.

RE: How to check Safaricom airtime balance

PrifadKE — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 22:47:59 +0000

Dial *144#
Wait for a text message with your airtime balance information
This is the most commonly used method to get ones airtime balance info.

Dial *100#
Reply with 4: My Account
Finally reply with 3: Balance

Dial *456#
Go to My Account option next by replying with 4 (or whichever number shows up in your current menu)
Finally select the 'Balance' option

Dial *544# to check both your airtime and data bundle balance
Reply with 98 for more options
Reply with 6: Balance & Tips
Then reply with 1 or whichever corresponds to: Balance
You will get one SMS with your balance details

Dial *131# to check your Safaricom Okoa Jahazi airtime balance. If you borrowed airtime, you can dial this shortcode, reply with 98 for more options
Select the option that says # Balance
Reply with 3 or whichever corresponds to the 'Okoa Jahazi airtime balance' option

To check your airtime balance online, go on the Safaricom.com website. You will find your current balance as well as Tunukiwa offers you can purchase for yourself (or as gifts for others).

Go to your Safaricom toolkit menu
Select Safaricom+ (not the M-PESA option)
Next, choose My Account
Then go for the 'Balance enquiry' option
Either choose Prepaid / Postpaid
You will be shown your balance after doing this

RE: How to get Safaricom PUK code

PrifadKE — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 22:45:53 +0000

Using another Safaricom line, you can begin the process of retrieving your PUK code using these two USSD shortcodes: *100# and *456#.

Dial *100#
Select the option that says Get PUK
Enter the phone number of the SIM card that is blocked / locked
Enter the national ID number you used when registering your Safaricom line
If the details you submit above are correct, you will receive a text message with your PUK code.
In the SMS, you will find details on how to proceed - enter the PUK code and then choose a new PIN. You will confirm the new PIN by reentering it again. Once you do this, your SIM card will be unlocked and you will be able to continue enjoying voice, text and data services on your line / device.
Alternatively, you can use the other shortcode I mentioned.

Dial *456#
Reply with 8 - Get PUK
Enter the phone number of the locked SIM
Enter the ID you used to register your line
Wait for the SMS with your PUK (delete this SMS once you are done unlocking your SIM)
Enter the PUK received in order to begin the process of creating your PIN
Enter your new PIN. Confirm it by re-entering it again
That's it. You will be able to resume making calls, sending text messages and using the internet on your smartphone / tablet / laptop / modem / computer.

Original Safaricom SIM card packaging
To retrieve your PUK code this way, locate the original SIM card packaging you got when you purchased your line.
On the back of the card, you will be able to retrieve your PUK and use it to unlock your SIM.
In some cards, you will have to scratch to reveal the PUK code.
Enter the PUK
Enter a new PIN
Confirm the PIN entered
That's it.

What to do after buying a new Safaricom SIM card

Answer This — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 22:41:29 +0000

When someone buys a new Safaricom SIM card, what are some of the things they should do? Say I am new to the Safaricom mobile network and wondering about some of the things I should know about to get the most out of my line, what are some tips / ideas I should know about?

How to check Safaricom airtime balance

Answer This — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 22:39:44 +0000

I am a Safaricom user. I am interested in knowing some of the methods you use to check Safaricom airtime balance on your phone / smartphone.

Do share some of the different methods you use to check your airtime balance. How do you do it via USSD shortcodes, online or on apps like Safaricom and WhatsApp?

How to get Safaricom PUK code

Answer This — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 22:38:00 +0000

My Safaricom SIM card is locked. I entered a wrong PIN three times and now am asked to enter a PUK code in order to unlock it. Any ideas on how to get my Safaricom PUK code would be greatly appreciated.