M-Pesa customers will have an easier way to pay for goods and services through the newly launched M-Pesa 1Tap, a near field communication system for payments.

However, users will have to obtain a wristband, phone sticker or card to be able to pay through the system. The additional gadgets will be connected to their M-Pesa account, but they will still have to enter their PIN on their phone to execute the transaction. All the tags are available at Safaricom shops at Kshs 20.

"To make a payment, a merchant will key in the payment amount into their device, tap the customer tag, and the customer will then key in their PIN on their phone to validate the payment. This cuts down the steps involved from more than eight steps using the M-Pesa tool on SIM cards to just one step for the customer," the company explained.

According to Safaricom, 1Tap will enable accuracy in sending funds to the right merchant since users will not be forced to type in the merchant number.

"As a trusted, easy and convenient cashless payment solution for more than 70,000 businesses in Kenya, Lipa Na M-Pesa is ready to advance to become a more seamless solution," said Bob Collymore, CEO, Safaricom. "M-Pesa 1Tap builds on a strong foundation built on 10 years of learning and feedback from both our customers and merchants. We hope it will transform the world of cashless payments."

This service was piloted in Nakuru city with over 90,000 users and 2,000 merchants participating from May to August this year.

The company will progressively roll out the service to supermarkets and other major retail outlets in due course.