Safaricom My OneApp Now Works on Airtel and Roaming

In Short

• Safaricom has updated My OneApp to work even when a user switches to other mobile networks.
• The change helps Airtel Kenya users and people roaming abroad who were being logged out.
• It reduces the need to reactivate the app using Safaricom mobile data.

What Happened

Safaricom has rolled out an update to My OneApp that lets users stay logged in while connected to rival networks such as Airtel Kenya, and while roaming.

My OneApp is Safaricom’s consolidated consumer app, meaning it is meant to replace separate apps for different services. Since its April launch, some users reported repeated sign-outs when Safaricom connectivity dropped, or when they switched SIMs or networks.

That logout loop created a second problem. Re-activating the app often required Safaricom mobile data, so customers outside Kenya said they had to buy roaming bundles, which are mobile data plans that work abroad but usually cost more.

With the new update, users can remain signed in across non-Safaricom networks. That should lower both friction and cost for diaspora customers and frequent travellers.

Safaricom has also said it plans to retire the standalone M-PESA app and the MySafaricom app within six months of My OneApp’s launch. That makes My OneApp the main front door for everyday services like mobile money, airtime, and account management.

Why It Matters

For telecoms and mobile money apps, login reliability is not a “nice to have”. It is the baseline for trust, support load, and transaction volume.

Safaricom is pushing customers into a single app experience. If the app fails when users roam or use a different network, it risks slowing adoption, especially among diaspora users who are often active senders, bill payers, and account managers.

The update is also a sign of a wider shift in operator apps. They are starting to behave more like standard consumer apps that work across networks, instead of being tightly tied to one SIM and one carrier’s data connection.