<\/span><\/h2>\nYou are at a bus stop in Nairobi, your Airtel line is completely out of airtime, and you need to make an urgent call. The nearest shop is 500 metres away, and your Safaricom line has M-Pesa balance. You know there must be a way.<\/p>\n
Learning\u00a0how to buy Airtel airtime from M-Pesa<\/strong>\u00a0saves you from situations like this. M-Pesa processed approximately 46.41 billion transactions valued at KSh 41.68 trillion during the 2025\/26 financial year, with small-value “kadogo” transactions accounting for 17.1 billion of those. Cross-network airtime purchases have surged as Kenyans seek seamless connectivity across networks. With Airtel holding over 23 million subscribers in Kenya, the demand for cross-network top-ups has never been higher.<\/p>\nThis guide covers three reliable methods to top up your Airtel line using M-Pesa, the charges involved, and what to watch out for.<\/p>\n
<\/span>What Is Buying Airtel Airtime from M-Pesa?<\/span><\/h2>\nBuying Airtel airtime from M-Pesa is the process of using your Safaricom M-Pesa wallet to purchase airtime for an Airtel Kenya mobile line. This is a cross-network transaction enabled by Pesapal’s Paybill number 220220.<\/p>\n
This matters in Kenya because many people use multiple SIM cards from different networks. By early 2026, M-Pesa had 40 million active users in Kenya, while Airtel had over 23 million subscribers. The ability to top up across networks keeps everyone connected.<\/p>\n
Here is a quick comparison of the main methods:<\/p>\n
\n\n\n| Method<\/th>\n | Business Number<\/th>\n | Account Number Format<\/th>\n | Internet Required<\/th>\n | Fee<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n |
\n\n| Paybill 220220<\/td>\n | 220220<\/td>\n | AIRT + Airtel number (e.g. AIRT0712345678)<\/td>\n | No<\/td>\n | None reported<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| Tingg (*369#)<\/td>\n | N\/A (USSD)<\/td>\n | Airtel number<\/td>\n | No<\/td>\n | None<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| Send Money to Airtel Money<\/td>\n | N\/A<\/td>\n | Airtel Money number<\/td>\n | No<\/td>\n | M-Pesa transfer fee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span>Why Kenyans Need to Buy Airtel Airtime from M-Pesa<\/span><\/h2>\nYou have been there: your Airtel line is dry, but you have M-Pesa balance. This service is the bridge.<\/p>\n \n- No scratch cards needed.<\/strong>\u00a0You can recharge instantly without hunting for a vendor. This is especially useful at night or in remote areas.<\/li>\n
- Works without internet.<\/strong>\u00a0The M-Pesa USSD menu works on any phone, anywhere in Kenya.<\/li>\n
- Send airtime to anyone.<\/strong>\u00a0You can buy airtime for family, friends, or employees by entering their Airtel number.<\/li>\n
- Growing demand.<\/strong>\u00a0Mobile money subscriptions in Kenya reached 53.4 million in Q1 2026, up from 51.4 million the previous quarter. Cross-network payments are a key driver of this growth.<\/li>\n
- Cost-effective.<\/strong>\u00a0Using Paybill 220220 does not incur extra charges beyond the airtime cost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Kenya’s digital economy is shifting toward total telecom interoperability. Knowing how to buy Airtel airtime from M-Pesa keeps you ahead of this curve.<\/p>\n <\/span>Methods to Buy Airtel Airtime from M-Pesa<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/span>Method 1: Paybill 220220 (Most Popular)<\/span><\/h3>\nThis is the simplest and most widely used method. Pesapal powers this service, and it works entirely through the standard M-Pesa menu.<\/p>\n Steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Open your M-Pesa menu (SIM toolkit or app).<\/li>\n
- Select\u00a0Lipa na M-Pesa<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Choose\u00a0Pay Bill<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Enter business number\u00a0220220<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Enter account number as\u00a0AIRT<\/strong>\u00a0followed by your Airtel phone number (e.g., AIRT0712345678).<\/li>\n
- Enter the airtime amount.<\/li>\n
- Enter your M-Pesa PIN and confirm.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You will receive two confirmation messages: one from M-Pesa and one from Airtel confirming the airtime credit.<\/p>\n <\/span>Method 2: Tingg USSD (*369#)<\/span><\/h3>\nThis method uses Safaricom’s Tingg payment service. It has no charges involved.<\/p>\n Steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Dial\u00a0*369#<\/strong>\u00a0from your Safaricom line.<\/li>\n
- Select option 4 from the welcome menu.<\/li>\n
- Select option 3 in the next window.<\/li>\n
- Choose option 2 for Airtel.<\/li>\n
- Enter your Airtel phone number.<\/li>\n
- Enter the amount.<\/li>\n
- Confirm the payment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
This method is less common but works well if Paybill 220220 is temporarily unavailable.<\/p>\n <\/span>Method 3: Send Money to Airtel Money (Alternative)<\/span><\/h3>\nThis is a two-step process: send money from M-Pesa to Airtel Money, then buy airtime from Airtel Money.<\/p>\n Step 1: Send money to Airtel Money<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Dial\u00a0*334#<\/strong>\u00a0and select\u00a0Send Money<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Choose\u00a0Send to Other Networks<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Select\u00a0Airtel Money<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Enter the recipient’s Airtel Money number.<\/li>\n
- Enter the amount and your M-Pesa PIN.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Step 2: Buy airtime from Airtel Money<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Open Airtel Money (*222#).<\/li>\n
- Select\u00a0Buy Airtime<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Choose the amount.<\/li>\n
- Enter your Airtel Money PIN.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
PRO TIP: Method 1 (Paybill 220220) is the fastest because it is a single step. Use Method 3 only if you already have an Airtel Money account and prefer to keep funds there.<\/p>\n |