Thousands of Safaricom users collect Bonga Points every month—through buying airtime, topping up data, and using other Safaricom services. These points, part of the Bonga Loyalty Programme, are meant to reward customers. But as people look for more flexibility, questions arise: Can you convert your Bonga Points into cash? What are the official rules? What about third‐party services offering instant conversion? And what rights do you have when it comes to expiry of your points?
In this post I break down:
- How Bonga Points normally work under Safaricom’s terms
- What “non-merchandise redemption” means (airtime, data, minutes)
- What recent third-party offerings promise about converting Bonga Points to M-PESA cash
- Legal and user protection developments (especially around expiry of points)
- What customers should watch out for
1. Bonga Loyalty Programme: The Official Setup
Safaricom’s Bonga Loyalty Programme is a rewards scheme where customers (Prepay or Postpay) earn points (“Bonga Points”) when they use Safaricom services.
Here’s what to know:
- Enrolment is required. You opt-in by sending an SMS (“Bonga” to 125) or by other methods Safaricom may communicate.
- Which usage earns points? Things like using voice call minutes, buying data bundles, staying “active” on the network. There are also certain transactions that do not earn points — e.g. free airtime or data from a promo, discounts for incorrect billing, airtime transfers, etc.
- Checking your balance: For Prepay, you can check via SMS (“Points” to a shortcode), or via USSD or customer care. For Postpay, your points appear on your monthly bill.
2. Redemption: What Safaricom Allows
Under Safaricom’s terms, Bonga Points can be redeemed in two main ways:
- Merchandise (physical items or offers)—this is the more traditional rewards catalogue.
- Non-merchandise offers: airtime, SMS, minutes, sometimes data. These allow you to use points for services rather than goods.
Importantly, according to the official Safaricom terms, Bonga Points have no cash value under the standard programme. They can’t be redeemed for cash or used to pay your Postpay bill.
Also, points may expire under certain conditions (more on this below). Besides, Safaricom can adjust rewards, change the redemption catalogue, set quotas, or withdraw offers.
3. The Rise of Third-Party “Convert to Cash” Services
Although Safaricom doesn’t officially permit conversion of Bonga Points to cash under its published terms, some third-party platforms have emerged claiming to offer that service. Two notable ones:
- Waridi, by Brainverse Technologies: Claims to allow users to instantly convert Bonga Points to M-PESA cash. The service uses a USSD code (126324038069#) and/or a PayBill number (4038069).
- BongaCash, Bongacash.co.ke, and other similar services claim similar conversion via their websites or apps.
These services often advertise:
- Transparency in conversion rates (how much cash per Bonga Point)
- Fast processing (sometimes “instantly”)
- Ease of use via USSD or app interface
But important caveats:
- These services are not part of Safaricom’s official terms and conditions. The official Safaricom T&Cs specify that Bonga Points are not redeemable for cash.
- Using third-party services may have risk: service reliability, hidden fees, or even issues of legitimacy.
- Conversion rates may be unfavorable; you may not get full value compared to official redemption options.
4. Expiry of Points and Your Rights
A particularly important issue has been proposed or implemented changes by Safaricom around expiry of Bonga Points or non-merchandise redemption. Some key developments:
- On 28 October 2022, Safaricom issued a public notice that Bonga Points not redeemed for more than 3 years (dating back to January 2019) would expire.
- However, courts have intervened: The High Court in Nairobi declined to lift an order that barred Safaricom from putting expiry on Bonga Points (for non-merchandise redemption). This is a win for consumer protection: customers shouldn’t lose points simply by letting them lie unused under terms that they perhaps weren’t fully aware of.
So, your rights include:
- Expecting a clear communication from Safaricom about expiry policies (how long points last, when they expire)
- If a policy change is made, having notice and being able to redeem before expiry
- Legal backing: courts have recognized that customers should be protected from sudden expiry without fair notice.
5. What Should Safaricom Customers Do?
Given this landscape, here are practical tips if you use Bonga Points:
| What to Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Check your Bonga Points balance regularly | So you know what you have, and can decide whether to redeem for merchandise, data, airtime, etc. |
| Redeem for non-merchandise options (airtime, SMS, minutes) if you need immediate utility | This is allowed under Safaricom’s official terms. No legal grey area here. |
| Be cautious with third-party “cash redemption” services | Verify legitimacy. Check reviews, test with small amounts. Understand the fees or rates. |
| Keep up with Safaricom terms & announcements | So you’re aware of any expiry rules, changes in redemption methods, or policy updates. |
| Act before points expire if there are announced deadlines | Don’t let your accumulation go to waste. |
6. Looking Ahead: What Could Change
- Potential official shift: Given demand, Safaricom may consider officially allowing cash redemption or wider flexibility in redemption of Bonga Points. But so far, no public updated terms allow this.
- Regulation / consumer protection may force more transparency around expiry and fair treatment of loyalty points.
- Competition / alternative loyalty platforms might drive innovation (like Waridi). Whether these get legitimized or pushed out depends on legal, technical and regulatory outcomes.
Conclusion
Bonga Points are a valuable asset for Safaricom users—but within Safaricom’s official framework, they do not have cash value. Non-merchandise redemption (airtime, minutes, etc.) is legitimate, and merchandise redemption is standard. Beware of third-party services claiming to convert them to cash—some may be reliable, but they are not sanctioned by Safaricom under existing terms.
Moreover, recent legal rulings show that expiry of points (especially for non-merchandise redemption) needs to be handled fairly, with notice. As a user, you have rights—but they depend on staying informed and acting when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I officially convert Bonga Points into cash on M-PESA?
No. According to Safaricom’s official terms, Bonga Points have no cash value and cannot be redeemed for M-PESA cash. They can only be used for merchandise and non-merchandise options such as airtime, data bundles, and SMS. Any service that promises cash redemption is a third-party provider, not Safaricom.
2. Are third-party services like Waridi or Bongacash safe to use?
These services advertise cash conversion, but they are not part of Safaricom’s official programme. Some customers report successful transactions, while others raise concerns about unfavorable conversion rates or hidden charges. If you choose to try them, proceed with caution, test with small amounts first, and understand that you do so at your own risk.
3. Do Bonga Points expire?
Safaricom previously announced expiry rules for points unused for more than three years. However, court rulings have blocked the enforcement of expiry for now, protecting customers from losing points unfairly. It’s still important to stay updated, as Safaricom may issue new terms in the future.
4. How do I check my Bonga Points balance?
For Prepay customers, dial the USSD code or send “Points” to the designated shortcode. Postpay customers can view their accumulated points on their monthly bill. You can also use the Safaricom app or call customer care.
5. What’s the best way to use Bonga Points?
It depends on your needs. If you need immediate value, redeeming for airtime, SMS, or data bundles is the simplest and safest option. For long-term use, keep an eye on Safaricom’s merchandise catalogue for special offers.
6. Could Safaricom allow official cash redemption in the future?
It’s possible, given customer demand and competition. For now, the official stance is that Bonga Points cannot be exchanged for cash, but policy shifts may occur as consumer behavior evolves.
