How to Link Your M-Pesa to PayPal

For years, Kenyan freelancers, content creators, and online businesses faced one major frustration: getting paid. Your hard-earned money would sit in a PayPal account, but getting it into your M-Pesa wallet—where you actually spend it—was a slow and expensive process.

Those days are over.

Safaricom’s official partnership with PayPal has created a seamless bridge. You can now quickly link your accounts to withdraw funds from PayPal directly to M-Pesa in minutes, not days.

This guide will walk you through the exact official process, step-by-step.

Part 1: How to Link PayPal to Your M-Pesa (Using the M-Pesa App)

This is the easiest and most secure method.

1. Open Your M-Pesa App: Log in using your M-Pesa PIN or biometrics. (If you don’t have it, download the official M-Pesa App from the Play Store or App Store).

2. Find “Global Payments”: On the app’s home screen, look at the navigation bar at the bottom. Tap on the “Global Payments” tab.

3. Select the PayPal Mini App: You will see a list of global services. Tap on the PayPal icon.

4. Start the Link: You will see an option to “Link Account.” Tap on it.

5. Log in to PayPal: You will be securely redirected to a PayPal login page. Enter the email address and password for the PayPal account you want to link.

6. Agree and Connect: PayPal will ask you to confirm that you agree to link your account to the Safaricom M-Pesa service. Read the terms, then tap “Agree and Connect.”

7. Success! You will receive an instant notification from Safaricom confirming that your M-Pesa account is now successfully linked to your PayPal account.

Part 2: How to Withdraw Money from PayPal to M-Pesa

Now for the best part—getting your cash.

1. Go Back to the PayPal Mini App: In your M-Pesa App, go to “Global Payments” $\rightarrow$ “PayPal.”

2. See Your Balance: The app will now securely show your available PayPal balance in USD.

3. Start the Withdrawal: Tap on the “Withdraw to M-Pesa” button.

4. Enter the Amount (in USD): The app will show you the current exchange rate you will receive. Enter the amount in USD (e.g., 100) that you wish to withdraw. Press “Continue.”

5. Confirm the Transaction: You will see a final confirmation screen showing the USD amount, the exchange rate, and the final KSh amount that will hit your M-Pesa wallet.

6. Enter Your M-Pesa PIN: Confirm the withdrawal by entering your M-Pesa PIN.

7. Done! You will receive a pop-up that the request is successful, followed by two messages: one from Safaricom and one from M-Pesa, confirming the funds have been added to your M-Pesa account. The whole process usually takes less than 10 minutes

Part 3: How to “Top Up” Your PayPal from M-Pesa

Need to pay for an international service or buy something online? You can also send money from M-Pesa to PayPal.

1. Open the PayPal Mini App: Go to “Global Payments” $\rightarrow$ “PayPal.”

2. Select “Top-up Account”: Instead of withdrawing, tap the “Top-up Account” button.

3. Enter the Amount (in KSh): Enter the amount in Kenya Shillings you want to send to your PayPal. The app will show you the conversion rate. Press “Continue.”

4. Confirm with PIN: Enter your M-Pesa PIN to authorize the payment.

5. Success: You will receive a confirmation message. The USD equivalent will be added to your PayPal balance, ready for you to spend online.

Quick Facts & Fees: What to Know

• Withdrawal Fees: PayPal charges a conversion fee, which is included in the exchange rate you see. Safaricom also applies a small processing fee. Always check the final confirmation screen.

• Transaction Limits: You are bound by M-Pesa’s standard transaction limits.

• One Account at a Time: You can only link one M-Pesa account to one PayPal account.

• Unlinking: You can easily unlink your accounts from the same “PayPal” mini-app by selecting “Unlink Account.”

This official service is a game-changer for anyone earning globally but spending locally. By linking your accounts, you’ve just made your online hustle that much easier.