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The utility firm said the outage will last from 12:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m., during which customers will not be able to purchase prepaid tokens using Paybill 888880 or settle postpaid bills via Paybill 888888.

In a notice issued on Saturday, Kenya Power advised customers to plan ahead to avoid being caught off guard.

“We urge our customers to purchase sufficient electricity tokens before the scheduled downtime. This will guarantee continued access to electricity during the maintenance period,” the company said.

The planned upgrade by Safaricom will affect all M-Pesa services, including the Lipa na M-Pesa Paybill options linked to Kenya Power accounts.

 Customers who rely solely on M-Pesa will be unable to complete transactions within the three-hour window.

Kenya Power assured the public that the downtime was temporary and aimed at improving efficiency of services.

“The upgrade will enhance the reliability and speed of M-Pesa transactions once completed. We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our customers during this time,” the advisory added.

The company also pointed customers to alternative payment options. These include Airtel Money, as well as mobile and internet banking services from commercial banks such as Co-operative Bank, KCB, Equity Bank, Family Bank, DTB, I&M Bank, NCBA and National Bank of Kenya.

The firm encouraged customers to make use of these channels where possible and reminded them that tokens purchased through banks or Airtel Money are valid and immediately processed.

Kenya Power further assured customers that services would resume normally after 3:30 a.m., once the Safaricom upgrade is completed.

“We continue to work closely with our partners to ensure minimal disruption and seamless service delivery,” the statement said.

The company also asked customers to follow its official social media pages and website for updates before, during and after the upgrade.

For many households, prepaid tokens have become a daily necessity, and any disruption can cause inconvenience.

 Analysts note that Kenya Power’s proactive alert is meant to avoid the surge of customer complaints that often follows service interruptions.

*Checklist for customers*

Before September 22, 12:30 a.m.: Buy enough prepaid tokens to last through the maintenance period.

During downtime (12:30 a.m. – 3:30 a.m.): Avoid using M-Pesa to purchase tokens or pay bills; use alternatives such as Airtel Money or mobile banking.

After 3:30 a.m.: Resume normal transactions on M-Pesa; check token delivery to confirm successful payments.

In case of failed transactions: Keep transaction messages and follow up with Kenya Power or your service provider.