Open the M-PESA app today and you’ll spot it almost instantly. The numbers, the menus, the whole interface just looks different. That’s because Safaricom has quietly changed the app’s font, and the internet has been buzzing about it for days.
This change has been rolling out gradually over the past week, and it’s dividing opinion like a halftime football argument. On one side, there’s the camp that thinks the new font is clean, modern, and easier to read. On the other, there are users who feel it looks odd, misplaced, or even a downgrade from what came before.
The shift is subtle but noticeable. Comparing the before-and-after versions, the old font had a crisp, formal feel. The new one is rounder, softer, and makes key numbers like your account balance pop more boldly on the screen. To my eyes, it’s a win. I find it bolder, easier to see, and just more pleasant to glance at when I’m checking my balance. The screenshots below show the app’s interface before (left) and after (right) the update.
Not everyone’s as happy, though. Some people find the change jarring, saying it disrupts their sense of familiarity. Others are fixated on identifying the typeface, tossing around names like Proxima Nova, Aptos, Poppins, and Nunito. For font enthusiasts, this has turned into a full-blown design debate.
What makes the switch more intriguing is the silence from Safaricom. There’s been no formal announcement or explanation, which leaves room for speculation. Is this part of a bigger rebrand? A small step in improving readability? Or just a quiet aesthetic refresh to keep things feeling current?
Whatever the reason, this simple font change has managed to stir up a lot of conversation. As for me, I’m firmly on team bold and beautiful. It may not change how we send money, pay bills, or buy airtime, but at least it makes looking at an empty balance just a bit easier on the eyes.
The new update is available on both Android and iOS.
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