The Madaraka Express team has updated its payment options, with a mobile purchase option: USSD
The steps are about 12: From Keying in the USSD Code, picking options on your departure and arrival points, passenger details, payments and confirmations. It’s a bit tedious and long, but the steps are necessary to get all your details and to ensure you pick the right travel options.

- Dial the USSD Code, *639#. Pick your desired task: Book or check a ticket. The helpline is also displayed here.
- Choose your departure and arrival stations, and your dates of travel. This is one way, so you have to repeat the process for your return ticket.
3. Pick your seating options, and input the number of passengers traveling. You can only book up to 5 tickets at time, and groups of over 9 are advised to book directly at the terminus. At this point, you also need to correctly input passenger names and ID numbers.
4. Lastly, pick your payment options, now or later, and the amount you need to pay is displayed vs the coach class and quantity of passengers. If you choose to pay immediately, the USSD platform redirects you to your M-PESA to input your PIN Code.
Travel safe!