How to Track Your M-Pesa Transactions and Stay on Top of Your Money in Kenya

M-Pesa is the backbone of Kenya’s financial system. From paying rent, buying groceries, sending money upcountry, to settling bills, nearly every transaction flows through M-Pesa. But here’s the challenge: while the convenience is unmatched, tracking M-Pesa transactions is messy.

Receipts get buried in SMS inboxes, fees go unnoticed, and by the end of the month, many Kenyans ask: “Where did my money go?”

In this guide, we’ll show you how to track your M-Pesa transactions, why it matters, and the best tools—like Jielewe—to make it effortless.


Why Tracking Your M-Pesa Transactions Matters

  1. Financial clarity – Know exactly how much you spend on airtime, food, transport, school fees, and giving.
  2. Avoid debt traps – Spot patterns of overreliance on Fuliza and digital loans.
  3. Budget smarter – Allocate money for essentials, wants, and savings with confidence.
  4. Plan goals – Whether it’s school fees, a laptop, or an emergency fund, you’ll save faster when you know where leaks are.
  5. Stay accountable – Data never lies. Tracking prevents overspending on impulse buys.

Common Mistakes Kenyans Make With M-Pesa

  • Ignoring SMS alerts: Receipts pile up, but no one checks totals.
  • Not separating personal vs. business transactions: Hustlers mix everything, leading to confusion.
  • Overlooking fees: Paybill and withdrawal charges drain budgets quietly.
  • Budgeting from memory: Assuming spend instead of confirming it.

Manual Ways to Track M-Pesa Transactions

  1. Export Statements from M-Pesa
    • Dial *334# → My Account → M-Pesa Statement.
    • Request an email statement (daily, monthly, or yearly).
    • Import to Excel or Google Sheets to categorize manually.
  2. Use the M-Pesa App
    • Download the official M-Pesa app.
    • View recent transactions and balances.
    • Drawback: Limited categorization and no budget tracking.
  3. Keep a Notebook/Spreadsheet
    • Old-school but effective if disciplined.
    • Record every transaction at day’s end.
    • Hard to maintain for busy Kenyans.

The Smarter Way: Use Jielewe to Track M-Pesa Automatically

Manual methods are time-consuming. That’s why thousands of Kenyans are turning to Jielewe—a budgeting, goals, and expense tracking app built for Kenya.

✅ How Jielewe Helps You Stay on Top of M-Pesa:

  • Automatic M-Pesa logging: No need to copy-paste SMS receipts—transactions flow in seamlessly.
  • Smart categorization: Airtime, transport, food, rent, fees—Jielewe organizes them for you.
  • Fee tracking: Every withdrawal and Paybill charge is visible, so you cut unnecessary costs.
  • Budget alerts: Get notified when you’re close to overspending in a category.
  • Goal tracking: Link your savings to real goals (emergency fund, new phone, rent deposit).

👉 In short, Programs like Centonomy teaches you the mindset for wealth creation, but Jielewe shows you the numbers daily so you apply what you learn.


Step-by-Step: How to Track M-Pesa in Jielewe

  1. Sign up at jielewe.co.ke.
  2. Connect your M-Pesa account.
  3. Import past transactions for a quick overview of your money trail.
  4. Set budgets by category (food, transport, entertainment, savings, debt).
  5. Create at least one goal (e.g., “Emergency Fund – KSh 10,000”).
  6. Review weekly reports—Jielewe shows where money went, what’s left, and what to adjust.

In less than 10 minutes, you’ll have a clear picture of your financial life.


Kenya-Specific Money Hacks

  • Bundle M-Pesa charges into your budget—don’t ignore them.
  • Use Paybill/Till wisely—some shops offer discounts on cash or direct bank card use.
  • Plan school fees as a goal in Jielewe to avoid last-minute panic.
  • Log cash transactions too, since many matatus, kiosks, and small traders still prefer cash.

Authoritative Resource

To build a strong foundation, combine practical tracking with financial education:

👉 Use Centonomy to learn the principles, and Jielewe to apply them daily.


Final Word: Don’t Let M-Pesa Manage You

M-Pesa is powerful, but without tracking, it’s easy to lose control. With Jielewe, you transform chaos into clarity—seeing every shilling, every category, every goal.

💡 Remember: If you can track it, you can control it.

👉 Start now at jielewe.co.ke and stay on top of your money.

Leave a Comment