Safaricom’s Lipa Mdogo Mdogo initiative enables Kenyans to buy 4G smartphones — like TECNO, Infinix, and itel — and pay in installments for as low as KSh. 20 for over a year. Also called Lipa Pole Pole phones, this program features other devices, and you’ll be required to pay 50% of the handset’s price and pay the balance in installments. In this guide, we’re looking at which phones are for Lipa Mdogo Mdogo. Let’s learn more about phones for Lipa Mdogo Mdogo.
Phones for Lipa Mdogo Mdogo From Safaricom
The following handsets are the devices in the service:
- TECNO Camon 17
- itel a24
- TECNO Spark 7 and
- Other TECNO, Infinix, and itel models
This list isn’t exhaustive and will still feature more smartphones. You can access the offer from any Safaricom shop in Kenya.
All You Need on Lipa Mdogo Mdogo Phones
With Lipa Mdogo Mdogo, Safaricom aims to provide the masses with more 4G-enabled smartphones. The initiative was brought to life in 2021 by a partnership between Safaricom and Google.
To own a Lipa Mdogo Mdogo, you need to pay a deposit of KSh. 1000, which is 50% of the handset’s price, and pay the rest in daily, weekly, or monthly installments. If you prefer the daily payment option, the balance will be paid as KSh. 20 every day over 12 months.
This program aims to provide 4G Internet access to an additional one million users on the Safaricom network in the 2022 financial year, noted Peter Ndegwa, who is the company’s CEO.
1. Eligibility to Lipa Mdogo
In this section of the write-up on which phones are for Lipa Mdogo Mdogo, we examine which people the smartphone experience via Lipa Pole Pole is meant for. The program isn’t for everyone as some factors disqualify most people from using the service.
These include people already with a smartphone, individuals above 75 years, persons on the CRB blacklist who are not eligible for the program, and others. Here are the categories of persons who are disqualified from joining Lipa Mdogo Mdogo:
- Current 4G smartphone users (including people who recently used a 46 mobile phone in the past)
- New Safaricom customers whose lines aren’t up to a year old
- Individuals below 18 years
- Aged people (over 75 years)
- People on the CRB blacklist as a result of pending loans (such as M-Shwari, FULIZA, HELB, among others)
2. Book a phone repair at Carlcare
If you’re one of the users asking Where can I get a cracked phone screen repaired, book a phone repair here.
3. Prices of Mdogo Mdogo Phones and How to Pay
These mobile devices allow flexible payment (daily, weekly, or monthly installments) as per your flow of income. Alternatively, you can make your daily payment from another Mpesa number, and you’ll see your deposit in your account.
4. How the Lipa Mdogo Service Works
The program works like a credit arrangement on a hire-purchase basis, where you collect a smartphone, pay a deposit, and pay the balance in installments as per the personalized contract plan.
Here’s a table of some Safaricom Lipa Mdogo Mdogo smartphones, along with their prices and other details:
|
Lipa Mdogo Mdogo mobile device |
Deposit (KSh) |
Installments in KSh (daily, weekly, or monthly) |
Lipa Mdogo Mdogo price (KSh) |
Average buying price (KSh) |
|
itel A24 |
500 |
20 daily 140 weekly 600 monthly |
7,700 |
4,500 |
|
TECNO Spark 7 |
3,000 |
50 daily 350 weekly 1,500 monthly |
21,000 |
15,000 |
|
TECNO Camon 17 |
5,000 |
80 daily 560 weekly 2,400 monthly |
33,800 |
18,000 |
|
Neon Ray Pro |
500 |
20 daily 140 weekly 600 monthly |
7,700 |
5,000 |
This list, as said above, isn’t exhaustive.
5. How to Apply
If you seek information on which phones are for Lipa Mdogo Mdogo to choose, you also need to know the application process that involves dialing *544# and selecting option 1:
- Dial *544#
- Pick Option 8 for Lipa Mdogo Mdogo
- Tap on Option 1 to Accept the Terms & Conditions
- The provider will check if you’re eligible and then send a confirmation text message to you
- The message will inform you about the Mdogo Mdogo phones available currently and how much they cost
- Pick a phone of your choice from the list
- Pay the deposit of KSh 500 with your M-Pesa account
- Collect your phone from a Safaricom retail outlet closest to you
FAQs on Lipa Mdogo Mdogo
1. What happens if you default?
When you default, Safaricom will send you reminders three times daily (8 AM, 12 PM, and 5 PM) to pay your loan.
For users that subscribe to balance in daily installments and don’t honor the pledge after four consecutive days, Safaricom will lock their phone, restricting their use of the device.
On the seventh day, you won’t be able to make calls or send text messages with your Lipa Pole Pole device. If you default for 30 days, Safaricom will disqualify you from the program, and your handset will be confiscated to be sold according to the Maker’s limited warranty.
You’ll join the CRB blacklist if you don’t pay for the phone completely. Here is how to check your CRB status in Kenya.
2. How does Safaricom encourage customers to pay promptly?
The network will reward you with free 100MB YouTube bundles whenever you pay for seven consecutive days.
Wrapping up
This article lets you know which phones are for Lipa Mdogo Mdogo. The Safaricom program features TECNO, Infinix, itel, and other devices, and you’ll be required to deposit 50% of the phone’s price and then balance in installments.
