Safaricom Reviews Upward Call, SMS, MPesa Services on Finance Act Suspension Lifting

Following the lifting of the suspension on the Finance Act of 2023 by the Court of Appeal on Friday, Safaricom will assess new rates for calls, SMS, data, fibre, and MPesa.

According to the telco, its revised charges comply with the Court’s ruling.

“We will be reviewing our calls, SMS, data, fiber, and M-PESA pricing to reflect the increase in Excise duty rates on fees charged on mobile money transfer services from 12 percent to 15 percent and the decrease in Excise duty rate on telecommunications services from 20 percent to 15 percent,“ a statement by Safaricom read.

The court of appeals lifted a conservatory order on the Finance Act on Friday, paving the way for its implementation.

Justices Mohamed Warsame, Kathurima M’inoti and Hedwig Omondi observed that there will be irreversible economic consequences if the order is not lifted.

“The upshot of our decision is that the application has merit and the same is allowed as prayed with the effect that the order made on 10th July 2023 suspending the Finance Act 2023, and the order prohibiting the implementation of the Finance Act 2023, be and is hereby lifted pending the hearing and determination of the appeal,” the judges ruled Friday.