Safaricom Explains Sudden Locks on Kenyans’ M-Shwari Accounts

Recently, many Kenyans have been bewildered by messages from M-Shwari notifying them that their savings accounts were locked due to defaulted loans, some going back several years. This mobile banking service, offered by Safaricom in partnership with NCBA, has frustrated users who were unaware of their loan defaults. Safaricom clarified that to unlock their accounts, users must repay the outstanding loans. Customers have voiced their discontent on social media, calling for better transparency and timely notifications regarding their loan statuses. Safaricom’s terms state they are within their rights to use funds from any account to settle debts.