Paying government bills via M-Pesa Paybill is one of the most practical financial habits a Kenyan can develop — it is free, instant, available 24/7, and eliminates queues at payment offices. Yet a surprising number of Kenyans still pay KPLC, NHIF, and NSSF in person or via agents who charge extra fees. This guide covers every essential government and utility payment via M-Pesa, with the correct paybill numbers, account number formats, step-by-step instructions, and troubleshooting tips.
The Golden Rule: M-Pesa Paybill Is Free
Before diving into individual services, the most important fact to know is that all M-Pesa Paybill payments are free to the sender. You pay zero in M-Pesa transaction fees when using Paybill — whether you are paying KES 200 for electricity tokens or KES 5,000 in NSSF contributions. The business or organisation receiving the payment bears the merchant processing cost.
This means there is absolutely no financial reason to use an M-Pesa agent, a third-party payment service, or a physical payment office for any of the services listed in this guide — you are almost certainly paying extra fees unnecessarily if you do.
How to Pay via M-Pesa Paybill: General Steps
- Dial *334# on your Safaricom line
- Select "Lipa na M-Pesa"
- Select "Pay Bill"
- Enter the Business Number (Paybill) for the service
- Enter the Account Number (this varies per service — see below)
- Enter the Amount
- Enter your M-Pesa PIN
- Press OK to confirm
- You will receive a confirmation SMS — save it as proof of payment
You can also pay via the M-Pesa Super App: tap "Pay" → "Paybill" → enter business number, account number, and amount.
1. KPLC — Kenya Power (Electricity)
Prepaid Electricity Tokens (Buy Tokens)
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Paybill Number | 888880 |
| Account Number | Your prepaid meter number (on the meter or your token receipt — typically 11 digits) |
| Minimum Amount | KES 100 |
| Fee | Free |
| Token delivery | Sent via SMS to your registered phone number within minutes |
Step-by-Step: Buy KPLC Prepaid Tokens
- Dial *334# → Lipa na M-Pesa → Pay Bill
- Business Number: 888880
- Account Number: Enter your meter number (e.g., 12345678901)
- Enter amount (minimum KES 100)
- Enter PIN and confirm
- Within 5–10 minutes, you receive an SMS with a 20-digit token number
- Enter the token on your meter keypad to load the units
Postpaid Electricity (Monthly Bill)
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Paybill Number | 888880 |
| Account Number | Your postpaid account number (on your KPLC bill — typically starts with a letter, e.g., 0101234567) |
| Fee | Free |
Common mistake: Many people confuse their meter number with their account number. Prepaid meters use the meter number. Postpaid accounts use the account number from your paper bill. Using the wrong number will either fail or credit the wrong account.
KPLC Troubleshooting
- Token not received after 30 minutes: Call KPLC on 97771 with your M-Pesa transaction code
- "Invalid meter number" error: Double-check your meter number — it is printed on the meter face and on previous token receipts
- Token received but meter rejects it: Ensure you enter all 20 digits in the correct order. Some meters require you to clear first by pressing the red button
2. NHIF — National Hospital Insurance Fund (Now SHA)
Note: NHIF has been transitioning to the Social Health Authority (SHA) since October 2024. The payment process remains via M-Pesa Paybill during the transition period.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Paybill Number | 200222 |
| Account Number (Employee) | Your National ID number or NHIF member number |
| Account Number (Self-Employed) | Your NHIF member number |
| Monthly Contribution | KES 500 (flat rate for voluntary members) or SHIF rate for employed |
| Fee | Free |
Step-by-Step: Pay NHIF/SHA via M-Pesa
- Dial *334# → Lipa na M-Pesa → Pay Bill
- Business Number: 200222
- Account Number: Enter your National ID number (e.g., 12345678)
- Amount: KES 500 (self-employed/voluntary) or your applicable SHIF amount
- Enter PIN and confirm
- You receive an SMS confirmation — keep this for your records
Important NHIF/SHA Payment Notes
- For employed Kenyans, NHIF/SHIF is deducted from salary by your employer — you typically do not need to pay separately unless you are topping up for dependents
- For self-employed Kenyans, pay KES 500 monthly by the end of each month to maintain active coverage
- If your NHIF/SHA card shows "inactive" despite recent payment, allow 24–48 hours for the system to update, or call NHIF on 0800 720 601
- Payments made after the deadline (last day of the month) count for the following month
3. NSSF — National Social Security Fund
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Paybill Number | 333300 |
| Account Number (Employee) | Your NSSF member number (from your NSSF card or registration letter) |
| Account Number (Self-Employed) | Your NSSF member number |
| Monthly Contribution (Tier I) | KES 400 (employee) + KES 400 (employer if applicable) |
| Fee | Free |
Step-by-Step: Pay NSSF via M-Pesa
- Dial *334# → Lipa na M-Pesa → Pay Bill
- Business Number: 333300
- Account Number: Your NSSF member number (e.g., 1234567)
- Amount: Your applicable contribution (minimum KES 400 for Tier I)
- Enter PIN and confirm
- Save the M-Pesa confirmation SMS as proof of contribution
Finding Your NSSF Member Number
- On your physical NSSF membership card
- Via USSD: Dial *303# and follow the prompts to retrieve your member details
- On the NSSF online portal at nssf.or.ke
- From your employer's payroll department
4. Nairobi City Water (NCWSC)
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Paybill Number | 444400 |
| Account Number | Your water account number (on your bill) |
| Fee | Free |
5. KRA — Tax Payments
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Paybill Number | 572572 |
| Account Number | Your Payment Registration Number (PRN) — generated on iTax (itax.kra.go.ke) |
| Fee | Free |
| Note | You must generate a PRN on iTax first before paying |
How to Pay KRA Tax via M-Pesa
- Log into itax.kra.go.ke with your KRA PIN and password
- File your return or generate a tax payment slip
- Note the Payment Registration Number (PRN) displayed
- Dial *334# → Lipa na M-Pesa → Pay Bill
- Business Number: 572572
- Account Number: Your PRN number
- Amount: The exact tax amount due
- Confirm and save the receipt
6. HELB — Student Loan Repayment
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Paybill Number | 200400 |
| Account Number | Your National ID number |
| Fee | Free |
Complete Quick-Reference Table: All Government Paybills
| Service | Paybill | Account Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPLC Prepaid Token | 888880 | Meter number | Token sent via SMS |
| KPLC Postpaid Bill | 888880 | Account number (from bill) | Different from meter number |
| NHIF / SHA | 200222 | National ID or member number | Pay by month end |
| NSSF | 333300 | NSSF member number | Remit by 9th of month |
| Nairobi Water (NCWSC) | 444400 | Water account number | From your bill |
| KRA Tax | 572572 | PRN from iTax | Generate PRN first |
| HELB Loan | 200400 | National ID number | Deducted from salary by employers |
| eCitizen Services | 206206 | Payment code from eCitizen | Passports, IDs, etc. |
| NTSA (Vehicle/Licence) | 108 | ID number | For driving licence renewal etc. |
General Paybill Troubleshooting
"Invalid Account Number" Error
This usually means you have entered the account number in the wrong format. Double-check the exact format required — some services require leading zeros, some do not. For KPLC, the meter number must be exactly as printed on your meter.
Payment Successful but Service Not Updated
Allow 30 minutes to 2 hours for most services to update after a payment. KPLC prepaid tokens should arrive within 15 minutes. NHIF and NSSF may take 24–48 hours to reflect. Always keep your M-Pesa confirmation SMS as proof.
Sent Payment to Wrong Paybill
Call Safaricom on 100 immediately with your transaction code. Safaricom will contact the receiving business to initiate a refund. Keep the M-Pesa confirmation SMS and note the exact amount, time, and wrong paybill number used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay KPLC for a meter that is not registered to my name?
Yes — you can buy tokens for any meter number regardless of registration. Simply enter the meter number as the account number. This is common for tenants paying landlords' electricity meters.
How do I know my NSSF member number?
Dial *303# for the NSSF self-service USSD, visit nssf.or.ke, or ask your employer's HR department. If you have never registered, visit any NSSF office with your national ID to get a member number.
What time can I pay KPLC via M-Pesa?
M-Pesa Paybill works 24/7, including weekends and public holidays. KPLC token delivery is also 24/7 — tokens are issued automatically by the system, not manually processed.
Is it safe to pay KRA tax via M-Pesa?
Yes — using the official Paybill 572572 with a valid PRN from iTax is the official and secure method. Keep your confirmation SMS and update your iTax record accordingly.