M-Pesa Error Code Quick Reference
Every M-Pesa error message on a Kenyan phone screen has a specific cause and a specific fix. Use this table to look yours up, then read the detailed sections below.
| Code | Message | Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| MR101 | Service is currently unavailable | Safaricom-side outage or scheduled maintenance. Affects the whole platform, not your account. | Wait 15–30 minutes and retry. Check @SafaricomPLC for live status. |
| MR102 | Unable to complete transaction | Temporary network or switch issue with no specific error returned. | Retry after 5 minutes. Check your balance first — it may have completed despite the error. |
| MR105 | Sorry, you cannot pay using Lipa na M-Pesa | Recipient paybill/till suspended, misconfigured, or over its daily cap. | Verify the paybill against an official source, then contact the merchant. |
| MR110 | Your request cannot be processed at this time | KYC or account-status flag needing manual review. | Visit a Safaricom shop with your national ID for a manual review. |
| No code | Sorry, transaction failed | Weak network, wrong recipient, or malformed paybill input. | Check signal and details, retry — or switch to *334# instead of the app. |
| No code | PIN locked. Please reset | Too many wrong PIN attempts. | *334# > My Account > Forgot PIN, or visit a Safaricom shop with ID. |
MR101 — "Service Is Currently Unavailable"
What it means
A Safaricom-side outage or a scheduled maintenance window. It affects the entire M-Pesa platform — not just your account or SIM. Everyone is getting it.
What to do
Wait 15 to 30 minutes and retry. Check @SafaricomPLC on X (Twitter) for an official acknowledgement — major outages get one within 30–60 minutes. Do not keep retrying every minute; you are just adding load.
If it's urgent
For money-at-stake payments, consider an Airtel Money or bank-app transfer as a fallback. For KRA VAT payments, see the KRA section below.
MR102 — "Unable to Complete Transaction"
What it means
A generic Safaricom-side failure — usually a temporary network or switch issue that did not return a specific error code.
What to do
Retry after 5 minutes. Before retrying, check your M-Pesa balance via *334# — the transaction may have actually completed despite the error. If money left your account but you got no confirmation, it will either complete or auto-reverse.
MR105 — "Sorry, You Cannot Pay Using Lipa na M-Pesa"
What it means
The recipient paybill or till is suspended, has an invalid configuration, or has hit its operator-side cap for the day. This is usually a merchant-side problem, not yours.
What to do
Verify the paybill or till number against an official source (a receipt, the merchant's website, or their social media). If it is correct, contact the merchant directly. Do not retry repeatedly against a suspended till — it will not go through and it complicates reconciliation.
MR110 — "Your Request Cannot Be Processed at This Time"
What it means
A KYC or account-status flag on your line that needs a manual review. It can also appear when SIM registration details don't match your M-Pesa profile.
What to do
Visit a Safaricom shop with your national ID. Staff can review your account, clear flags, and re-verify your identity on the spot. This resolves most MR110 errors immediately.
"Sorry, Transaction Failed" (No Error Code)
What it means
A catch-all for transactions that fail before reaching the Safaricom switch. Common causes: weak network signal, a wrong recipient number, a malformed paybill input, or temporary congestion.
What to do
Check your phone signal, re-enter the recipient details carefully, and retry. If it still fails, switch from the M-Pesa app (or *144#) to the older *334# menu — it sometimes succeeds when newer flows fail.
Money deducted but no confirmation?
Check your balance via *334# > My Account. If the money is gone, the transaction is in suspense — most complete or auto-reverse within 30–60 minutes. If it is still unresolved after 24 hours, call 100 (free from a Safaricom line) or 0722 002 100 with the approximate time and amount.
Related: Safaricom not working — status & fixes for network-level outages.
PIN Locked / "Wrong PIN"
How to reset
Dial *334# > My Account > Forgot PIN, then follow the prompts. You will be asked for your national ID number, date of birth, and recent M-Pesa transaction details. The reset completes within minutes and the new PIN arrives via SMS.
In person
Visit any Safaricom shop with your original national ID. Staff can reset your PIN and re-verify your KYC data — useful if you've forgotten the security answers.
M-Pesa Errors & Paying KRA VAT on Time
Kenyan businesses pay VAT via M-Pesa Paybill 572572 (your KRA PIN is the account number). An M-Pesa error near the 20th deadline is stressful — here is the correct play.
Try the alternate channel first
If the app gives an error, dial *334# and pay from there. USSD and the app share the same backend, but one channel failing doesn't always mean the other is down.
Don't double-pay
Before retrying a failed KRA payment, check your balance. If MR102-style errors repeat, the first attempt may have processed. Duplicate VAT payments mean a refund application later.
Screenshot every failed attempt
If M-Pesa is down on deadline day, capture the error with the date and time. This evidence is your defence for a late-payment penalty waiver.
File and pay as soon as service returns
If you cross the 20th, file your return and pay immediately when M-Pesa recovers, then apply for a penalty waiver citing the network outage. See our penalty waiver guide below.
Related: KRA penalty for late VAT filing & waiver and August 2026 filing deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does M-Pesa error MR101 mean?
- MR101 means 'service is currently unavailable' — a Safaricom-side outage or a scheduled maintenance window. It affects the entire M-Pesa platform, not just your account. Wait 15 to 30 minutes and retry. Check Safaricom's official X account (@SafaricomPLC) for a live status update, or use our Safaricom not working guide for workarounds.
- My M-Pesa says 'transaction failed' — was my money taken?
- Not necessarily. The generic 'transaction failed' message is a catch-all for failures before the payment reaches the Safaricom switch — commonly a weak network, a wrong recipient number, or a malformed paybill input. First check your M-Pesa balance via *334#; if the money was deducted but the transaction failed, it will either complete or auto-reverse. Re-check your recipient details and signal, then retry. If it still fails, try *334# instead of the app or *144#.
- Why can't I pay using Lipa na M-Pesa (error MR105)?
- MR105 means the recipient paybill or till number is suspended, misconfigured, or has hit its operator-side daily cap. Verify the paybill number against an official source before retrying. If the number is correct, the issue is with the merchant — contact them directly. Do not retry repeatedly against a suspended till; you will not get through and may confuse reconciliation.
- Can I still pay KRA VAT if M-Pesa is giving errors?
- If M-Pesa is down or failing on your KRA Paybill 572572 payment, try the alternate USSD code *334# or the M-Pesa app if one is down. If the whole platform is down, do not keep retrying — screenshot the error with the date and time, and pay as soon as the service returns. If this pushes you past the 20th filing deadline, file your return and pay immediately after, then apply for a late-payment penalty waiver citing the network outage with your evidence.
- What does MR110 mean on M-Pesa?
- MR110 means 'your request cannot be processed at this time' — typically a KYC or account-status flag that needs a manual review. Visit a Safaricom shop with your national ID so staff can review your account, clear any flags, or re-verify your identity. This usually resolves the issue on the spot.
- How do I fix a locked M-Pesa PIN?
- Dial *334# > My Account > Forgot PIN, then follow the prompts. You will be asked for your national ID number, date of birth, and recent M-Pesa transaction details. The reset completes within minutes and the new PIN arrives via SMS. Alternatively, visit any Safaricom shop with your national ID to reset the PIN in person.