Stay connected and sometimes running out of airtime can be a real challenge. Fortunately, major Kenyan mobile service providers—Safaricom, Airtel and Equitel—offered airtime credit services to ensure you stay connected. Here’s how to borrow airtime from these providers.
Safaricom: Okoa Jahazi
Okoa Jahazi is a Safaricom service that allows you to borrow airtime when your balance goes below Ksh 5. A 10% service fee applies, so you get 90% of the borrowed amount.
Eligibility
To qualify for Okoa Jahazi, you must:
Be a Safaricom prepaid subscriber.
Have an average monthly airtime usage of at least Ksh 500.
Repay previous Okoa Jahazi loans on time.
How to Borrow
Dial *131# or *4562#.
Select “Auto-Okoa” and then “Subscribe.”
Choose the amount you want to borrow.
A confirmation SMS will be sent upon a successful request.
Once subscribed, the chosen amount will be credited automatically when your balance goes below Ksh 5.
Repayment
The borrowed amount will be deducted from your next airtime top-up.
You must repay within five days to avoid 24-hour blacklist.
A confirmation SMS will be sent after repayment.
Additional Features
You can borrow multiple times based on previous week’s airtime usage.
To check your borrowing limit, dial *131#.
New customers must be active for 14 days before borrowing.
Privacy
Safaricom collects and secures personal information as per the Data Protection Act. Customers can review Safaricom’s Data Privacy Statement via customer care or online.
Airtel: Kopa Credo
Kopa Credo allows Airtel prepaid users to borrow airtime or bundles by dialing *544#. Borrowed airtime can be used for calls, SMS and internet bundles.
Eligibility
To access Kopa Credo, you must:
Be a registered Airtel subscriber.
Clear previous loans before requesting new ones.
Have an active line (suspended or deactivated lines are not eligible).
Borrowed airtime cannot be cancelled once requested.
Airtel reserves the right to change service terms and fees at any time.
Additional Terms
Network conditions may affect service availability.
Airtel stores and analyzes user data to improve service eligibility.
Equitel: Jiokolee Credo
Equitel’s Jiokolee Credo allows prepaid subscribers to borrow airtime in amounts starting from Ksh 10 by dialing *740#.
Service Charges
Airtel deducts a 10% service fee from borrowed amounts. Here’s a breakdown:
| Kopa Credo | Customer Airtime | Service Fee | Amount to be Recovered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| 50 | 45 | 5 | 50 |
| 100 | 90 | 10 | 100 |
Eligibility
To qualify for Jiokolee Credo, you must:
Be an active Equitel subscriber for at least 90 days.
Have an active Equitel M-Banking account.
Repay previous Jiokolee Credo loans before borrowing again.
To check eligibility, dial *740# > Select “Help” (Option 9) > “Eligibility” (Option 1).
How to Borrow
Dial *740#.
Select the amount you want to borrow.
Confirm the request.
Receive a confirmation SMS upon successful crediting.
Repayment
10% service fee applies (e.g. borrowing Ksh 50 gives you Ksh 45, but you owe Ksh 50).
Repayment is deducted from the next airtime top-up.
Jiokolee Credo airtime can be repaid using any credited airtime, including Gawa Credo.