How Well Do You Understand the Cashless Payment System? Lest you Get Caught Unawares...

Having been postponed twice in the past, the big switch to the cashless payment system now seems inevitable. Nevertheless, the changeover has been clouded with concerns about the security of the cards and the low awareness among the larger public. With the 1 December, 2014 deadline fast approaching, it’s crystal clear that many commuters have not got to the nitty gritty side of the system – where to get the cards or how the whole idea works – with just over 2,000 cards in use in Eastlands, Kikuyu, Ngong and Githurai routes.

Here are three basics you need to grasp lest you get accused of sabotaging the changeover:

Where to Acquire Your Card

The idea of identity cuts across all the platforms. This means that an identification document – either a nation identity card or passport – and a mobile phone number are imperative. You can acquire your Abiria Card from authorized sales or reloading stations. The stations are currently at the following bus termini: Kencom, Ambassadeur, Kenyatta National Hospital General Post Office (GPO), Community, Kawangware, Central, Utawala and Kibera.
Beba Pay can be acquired from participating Equity Bank Branches and Agents which bear the BebaPay sign label or BebaPay Tellers at major bus stops in the city. The tellers can be found at the following matatus termini: Odeon Stage, Ronald Ngala, Commercial, Githurai 45 and Kahawa West West Market.
As for My 1963, there are several youth reseller shops all over the city and within all merchants who accept 1963 including M-Pesa Agents.

Your Deposits are Safe & Secure


After all, the ability of the system to ensure security of commuters’ funds is integral. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) prioritized this by order all cashless matatu payment system providers to seek approval from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) before rolling out their services. Hitherto, Equity Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, Co-operative Bank and Tangaza Pesa are the only entrants with the greenlight to offer their services. This strategy, laced up with the assurance that these are chip-based versions rather than the conventional magnetic card strips, will ensure that the commuters’ deposits are safe.

Interoperability Means No Hassle

Earlier on, concerns were raised about the cost of installing the necessary infrastructure on the matatus. Worse still, there were fears that the commuter has to acquire multiple plastic cards to use on different routes. This has been settled with the integration of platforms from all the cashless service providers. The banking sector regulator has licensed cashlite fare providers and the commuters can simply tap their preferred plastic cards across all cashlite matatu networks without any hassle. Rest assured that you can use your Beba Pay card can be used on My 1963 mobile point-of-sale and vice versa.