Many people die with funds locked up in their Mpesa accounts without anyone knowing. To avoid these funds going unused you can simply register a next of kin on your Mpesa account using a mobile phone.
Who is Your MPESA Next of Kin?
The next of kin a close living blood relative who can be contacted by Safaricom when a subscriber die. In case of any eventuality, the next of kin access the funds easily.
To register a Mpesa next of kin you simply visit the Safaricom website and fill in the form. However, you can do it through your phone using the following steps;
- Dial *234#.
- Pick the second option “My Mpesa information”.
- Chose option 6 “Next of Kin”.
- Enter your PIN
- Key in your next of kin information.
It’s as easy as that.
What is Needed When You Want to Retrieve Funds?
A claimant that wants to retrieve funds should visit a Safaricom store in their area. They should carry verification documents that include;
- The national ID of the person claiming the deceased funds.
- Death certificate of the deceased.
- An affidavit stating the claimant’s relationship to the deceased.
- Grants of letters of administration. These are found from any probate and administration court.
- Grant of probate-a legal court document ascertaining that the deceased person left a will providing for what should happen.
- Confirmation of grant of probate or confirmation of the grant of letters of administration from the courts.
- A letter from the provincial administration. This confirms the details about the deceased person and the beneficiary.
After Safaricom verifies all the information, the funds are transferred to the next of kin’s Mpesa account.
If the Mpesa next of kin does not provide information or claim the funds on time, they are transferred to the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA). This happens after two years. However, the money can still be claimed.