We all need to be off-air sometimes – whether for work, an important meeting or just to disconnect for a while. Luckily mobile service providers like Safaricom and Airtel have a smart feature that notifies you of missed calls via SMS so you stay informed even when your phone is off or in airplane mode.

Why Missed Call Alerts Matter

I recall an instance when an insurance agent kept calling me during work hours – sometimes in the middle of intense meetings. More than a dozen calls in two or three hours and I had to switch off my phone or activate airplane mode to avoid disruptions. In such situations a missed call alert (MCA) is a lifesaver, you get to decide whether to return the call or ignore it.

Airtel Kenya offers a free MCA service that sends a text message when you were unavailable. Safaricom also has a similar feature that sends a text that says:
"You attempted to call me, but I was not available."

Airtel makes it super easy to activate this feature.

How to Activate the Missed Call Alert (MCA) on Airtel Kenya

Steps:

  1. Open Messages – Open your Airtel messaging app.

  2. Compose a New Message – Type MCA (without quotes) in the message body.

  3. Send to 555 – Send the message to 555.

  4. Get Confirmation – Airtel will send you a confirmation message that the service is activated.

How to Deactivate the Missed Call Alert (MCA):

  1. Open Messages – Open your messaging app.

  2. Compose a New Message – Type STOP (without quotes) in the message body.

  3. Send to 555 – Send the message to 555.

  4. Get Confirmation – You will get a confirmation message from Airtel that the service is deactivated.

Bonus: Activate Airtel Voice Mail

If you want to go a step further and activate Airtel’s Voice Mail, follow these steps:

  1. Open your messaging app.2. Type VMS (without quotes).

  2. Send to 555.

  3. Get confirmation.

Conclusion

With the Missed Call Alert (MCA) service you can know when someone calls you even when your phone is off or unreachable. Perfect for managing your availability without missing important calls.