How to Reactivate my Safaricom Line Online in Kenya

In Kenya, Safaricom is the dominant mobile operator, and Kenyan phone numbers can be deactivated if left unused. A Safaricom SIM (PrePay) will become inactive if there is no usage for a period of time.

If your line has been deactivated, you need to know how to reactivate your Safaricom Line Online in Kenya without visiting a store – by using USSD codes, online portals, or remote support.

As you read through this article, you will gain a clear understanding of the step-by-step methods to reactivate or restore service on your Safaricom line (both in Kenya and while abroad), how long lines stay deactivated, and how to check a line’s status.

1How long does the Safaricom line stay deactivated?

2How do I contact Safaricom customer care from abroad?

3How do you check if your Safaricom line is still active?

4How to Reactivate my Safaricom Line Online in Kenya

5How do I activate my Safaricom line while abroad?

How long does the Safaricom line stay deactivated?

By default, Kenyan mobile regulations require that a SIM be used at least once every 90 days to remain active. If no activity (calls, M-PESA, etc.) occurs during a rolling 90-day window, Safaricom will mark the line as inactive and eventually recycle the number for reissue.

In practice, this means if you don’t use your Safaricom line for 3 months, it will be deactivated (you may still receive incoming calls or messages for a short grace period, but after 90 days all services stop and the number can be taken by someone else).

However, Safaricom introduced a service called Daima to mitigate this. With Daima, a single top-up and activation lets you keep a SIM active for up to 2 years on a single payment. For example, dialing 1004# and choosing Daima allows customers to extend their line by 6 months, 1 year or 2 years in one go.

Daima is aimed at Kenyans who want to use a line intermittently (perhaps when abroad) without losing it. It enables a Pay-As-You-Go (PrePay) SIM to last much longer than 90 days. Under normal circumstances, a Safaricom PrePay line should be use at least once every 90 days to remain active. If not, it becomes inactive.

Safaricom’s Daima option (1004#) can extend validity (up to two years) by paying a one-time fee. In case your line is no longer connected, the following sections will reveal how to reconnect.

How do I contact Safaricom customer care from abroad?

In case you are outside Kenya and you require assistance with your Safaricom line, the company has an international customer care number. Safaricom’s official guidance is: PrePay customers abroad should dial +254 722 002 100 to reach Safaricom Customer Care. (PostPay/contract customers can use +254 722 002 200.) Calling this number will connect you to Safaricom’s call center, though standard international charges apply.

This means if you have a Kenyan SIM that’s roaming or if you want to sort out your Safaricom account while abroad, dial:

+254 722 002 100 (from any phone, for Safaricom PrePay issues).
If needed, you can also try +254 722 002 200 (the Safaricom reply on Twitter suggests this for some queries).

When you call +254 722 002 100, you may hear a menu. You can say “customer care” or press the option for support. Inform the agent of your phone number and issue (e.g., SIM inactive) and they will assist. Safaricom may ask for verification (for example, telling them your PUK code or other details).

Alternatively, if you have internet access abroad, you could try Safaricom’s live chat or *100# USSD (if your SIM still has network). But the simplest is the above international number. Note that international calling implies that you would use roaming minutes and thus make sure you have credit or use a less expensive calling option if possible.

How do you check if your Safaricom line is still active?

Checking to know whether a Safaricom number is active can be done through a few easy processes:

Dial Safaricom USSD codes: On the SIM card used, dial 100#. Should the menu drop open up (such as services such as Data, Voice packs etc.) your line is not yet terminated. In case 100# does not work or when it sends a message that the number is inactive, then it has been deactivated.

On the same note, 144# (balance inquiry) will also be able to work provided the line is active. Concisely, when USSD codes give information, then the SIM is operational. When you only hear no dial tone or an error it is probably inactive.

Use MySafaricom app or portal: In case your Safaricom phone has been connected to the MySafaricom app (or online self-care), use your number to log in. Your balance and status will be normally displayed on the account dashboard.

When the line has already been turned off, the portal can tell you, or you just cannot log in, which proves that you are active. The portal of Safaricom also provides the opportunity to check the airtime, M-PESA balance, etc., which also proves that the line is active.

Make/receive a call or SMS: You can also call with another phone and see whether the number works or not. When it rings or goes to voicemail it is still in service. In case you receive an auto reply such as “The number you have called is not available or the number is invalid”, this is deactivation. In the same vein, when one SMSs you and you do not get it, then the number might be out of service.

In most cases, *100# is the quickest check. According to a Kenya USSD guide, *100# “accesses all Safaricom USSD services for prepaid customers”. So if *100# works, your line is active. (If not, then move to reactivation steps below.)

Also see: Safaricom’s Reverse Call Service is no Longer Totally Free

How to Reactivate my Safaricom Line Online in Kenya

If your Safaricom SIM has been deactivated, you can often reactivate it yourself using Safaricom’s self-service codes. The key options are:

Use Daima to extend validity: If your SIM is not yet fully recycled, you may still be able to top up and reactivate it via Daima. Dial *100*4# from your Safaricom number. This opens the Daima menu where you can choose to top up and reactivate your line for 6, 12, or 24 months.

A single top-up will restore service if the number was inactive but not yet fully handed out. Once you confirm the Daima recharge, your line is credited and reactivated instantly. (Daima effectively resets the “90-day clock” for your line by adding credit and validity.)

Dial the SIM recreation USSD: Safaricom has announced that customers can “recreate” an old SIM through USSD. While not heavily advertised, official Safaricom support suggests dialing *100*2# (known as “Recreate Old SIM”) from another active Safaricom line, then selecting “SIM Card issues” → “Recreate Old SIM”.

(This is confirmed by Safaricom Care’s Twitter: “Simply dial 1002# and select ‘Recreate Old SIM’…”x.com.) This command tells Safaricom you want to reissue your old number.

After dialing 1002#, follow the prompts to initiate the SIM recreation. Then, to complete it, you typically need to top up the number within 7 days (by sending an M-PESA payment to your own number or another means) to keep it.

Once done, your SIM is reactivated as if it were a new activation. (Safaricom automatically deactivates unused SIMs over time, so 1002# brings it back if still available.)

Contact Safaricom if USSD fails: In case of failure of the above (e.g. when 1002# is not displayed or Daima is unavailable), you might need assistance of Safaricom. When all the above has been tried and failed, call the Safaricom care at +254 722 002 100 or go to a Safaricom shop with your SIM and ID. But often, the USSD and Daima options will suffice for self-reactivation.

How do I activate my Safaricom line while abroad?

In case you are abroad and you need to use your Safaricom number (or you have reactivated it elsewhere), you need to make sure that you have roaming on your SIM:

Enable roaming with USSD: Dial *200# on your Safaricom mobile. This sends a text to Safaricom with the instruction to enable the SIM to have the international roaming. Dial 200# after which the prompts (usually only one confirmation) should be followed to enable roaming. When roaming is enabled it can also register your SIM in other countries where you land.
Contact Safaricom for roaming: In case *200# does not work, you can dial Safaricom Care at + 254 722 002 100 and ask to be put under roaming. The agent might require to check your identity, however, they can enable international access on their side.
Use Safaricom’s USSD abroad: Strangely, when you are on roaming, you can still use USSD to check balances or packages by dialing Safaricom USSD such as *100# or *144# even when outside the country. Note that normal roaming costs would be on data/USSD/SMS.

To use your Safaricom phone overseas, it is necessary to ensure first that your phone is on (by using the methods mentioned above). Thereafter, enable roaming, which is by dialing *200#. A confirmation SMS can be sent to you.

Then once you get to the country you are supposed to have the Safaricom line working on the international network and you can make/receive calls or M-PESA as normal (at international rates). In case of problems, one can call Safaricom at +254 722 002 100 to fix problems related to activation.

FAQs

How to know if Safaricom line is active?

Dial *106# to check your registration status

How do I activate Safaricom internet?

Dial *777#
● Select ‘Internet & SMS’ –
● Select ‘Getting Internet Settings’
● Read the instructions you receive from Safaricom.
● Go to the notification banner and install.

How long does Safaricom line stay deactivated?

120 days after the end of the validity period of your last Re-charge

Conclusion

It is easy to maintain a Safaricom line in Kenya by topping up every now and then, but the line will deactivate after 90 days of no use. Luckily, Safaricom provides easy ways to reverse this online.

When you are abroad, do not forget to dial +254722002100 to get assistance and dial 200# to allow roaming. Through these USSD codes and contact options, most users can reactivate or maintain their Safaricom lines remotely without visiting a shop.