The SDK can be configured either through environment variables or through the constructor. Using environment variables is recommended for better security and ease of use.

Using Environment Variables (Recommended)

Create a .env file in your project root:

# Required configurations
CONSUMER_KEY=your_consumer_key
CONSUMER_SECRET=your_consumer_secret
BUSINESS_SHORT_CODE=174379
PASS_KEY=your_pass_key
CALLBACK_URL=your_callback_url

# Optional configurations
ENVIRONMENT=sandbox  # or 'production'
TIMEOUT_URL=your_timeout_url
RESULT_URL=your_result_url
INITIATOR_NAME=your_initiator_name
SECURITY_CREDENTIAL=your_security_credential

Then initialize the SDK:

const Daraja = require('daraja-javascript-sdk');
const daraja = new Daraja();  // Will use environment variables

Manual Configuration

You can also provide configuration directly:

const Daraja = require('daraja-javascript-sdk');

const daraja = new Daraja({
  consumerKey: 'your_consumer_key',
  consumerSecret: 'your_consumer_secret',
  environment: 'sandbox',  // or 'production'
  businessShortCode: '174379',
  passKey: 'your_pass_key',
  callbackUrl: 'your_callback_url'
});

Usage

STK Push

STK Push is a service that allows you to initiate a payment prompt on the customer's phone. The service will send a request to the user's phone, prompting them to enter their M-Pesa PIN to authorize the transaction.

// Basic STK Push
try {
  const response = await daraja.stkPush({
    phoneNumber: '254712345678',  // Phone number to prompt for payment
    amount: 1,                    // Amount to charge
    accountReference: 'TEST',     // Your reference for the transaction
    transactionDesc: 'Test Payment'
  });
  
  console.log('STK Push Response:', response);
  // Response includes CheckoutRequestID for tracking the transaction
} catch (error) {
  console.error('STK Push Error:', error);
}

Handling M-Pesa Callbacks

Basic Callback Setup

Here's a simple Express.js server to handle M-Pesa payment notifications:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

// Allow JSON requests
app.use(express.json());

// Handle M-Pesa payments
app.post('/mpesa/callback', (req, res) => {
  // Get the payment details
  const { Body } = req.body;
  
  if (Body.stkCallback) {
    // Check if payment was successful
    if (Body.stkCallback.ResultCode === 0) {
      // Get payment details
      const items = Body.stkCallback.CallbackMetadata.Item;
      const amount = items.find(item => item.Name === 'Amount').Value;
      const mpesaReceipt = items.find(item => item.Name === 'MpesaReceiptNumber').Value;
      const phoneNumber = items.find(item => item.Name === 'PhoneNumber').Value;
      
      console.log('Payment Received!');
      console.log('Amount:', amount);
      console.log('Receipt Number:', mpesaReceipt);
      console.log('Phone Number:', phoneNumber);
      
      // TODO: Update your database
      // TODO: Send confirmation to customer
      
    } else {
      // Payment failed
      console.log('Payment failed:', Body.stkCallback.ResultDesc);
    }
  }
  
  // Always respond to M-Pesa
  res.json({ ResultCode: 0, ResultDesc: "Success" });
});

// Start server
app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server is running on port 3000');
});

Checking Payment Status

Simple way to check if a payment was successful:

const Daraja = require('daraja-javascript-sdk');
const daraja = new Daraja();

// Check payment status
async function checkPayment(checkoutRequestId) {
  try {
    const result = await daraja.stkPushQuery({
      checkoutRequestId: checkoutRequestId
    });
    
    if (result.ResultCode === 0) {
      console.log('Payment was successful!');
    } else {
      console.log('Payment failed or pending');
    }
  } catch (error) {
    console.log('Error checking payment:', error.message);
  }
}

Complete Example

Here's a complete example showing how to:

Start a payment
Save payment details
Handle the callback

const express = require('express');
const Daraja = require('daraja-javascript-sdk');

const app = express();
app.use(express.json());

// Store payments in memory (use a database in production)
const payments = [];

// Initialize Daraja
const daraja = new Daraja();

// Start payment
app.post('/pay', async (req, res) => {
  try {
    const { phone, amount } = req.body;
    
    // Start STK Push
    const result = await daraja.stkPush({
      phoneNumber: phone,
      amount: amount,
      accountReference: 'Test',
      transactionDesc: 'Test Payment'
    });
    
    // Save payment details
    payments.push({
      checkoutRequestId: result.CheckoutRequestID,
      amount: amount,
      phone: phone,
      status: 'pending'
    });
    
    res.json({ 
      message: 'Payment started',
      checkoutRequestId: result.CheckoutRequestID
    });
    
  } catch (error) {
    res.status(500).json({ error: error.message });
  }
});

// Handle M-Pesa callback
app.post('/mpesa/callback', (req, res) => {
  const { Body } = req.body;
  
  if (Body.stkCallback) {
    const { ResultCode, ResultDesc, CheckoutRequestID } = Body.stkCallback;
    
    // Find the payment
    const payment = payments.find(p => p.checkoutRequestId === CheckoutRequestID);
    if (payment) {
      if (ResultCode === 0) {
        // Payment successful
        const items = Body.stkCallback.CallbackMetadata.Item;
        payment.status = 'completed';
        payment.mpesaReceipt = items.find(item => item.Name === 'MpesaReceiptNumber').Value;
        
        console.log('Payment completed:', payment);
      } else {
        // Payment failed
        payment.status = 'failed';
        payment.error = ResultDesc;
        
        console.log('Payment failed:', ResultDesc);
      }
    }
  }
  
  res.json({ ResultCode: 0, ResultDesc: "Success" });
});

// Check payment status
app.get('/status/:checkoutRequestId', async (req, res) => {
  const { checkoutRequestId } = req.params;
  
  // Find payment in our records
  const payment = payments.find(p => p.checkoutRequestId === checkoutRequestId);
  if (!payment) {
    return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Payment not found' });
  }
  
  res.json({ payment });
});

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server running on http://localhost:3000');
});

Understanding M-Pesa Callbacks

How Callbacks Work

When a customer makes a payment:

The customer receives an STK push on their phone
After they enter their PIN, M-Pesa processes the payment
M-Pesa sends the result to your callback URL
Your server processes this callback and updates your system

Setting Up Your Callback URL

1. Requirements for Callback URLs

Must be a public HTTPS URL (M-Pesa doesn't accept HTTP)
Must be accessible from the internet
Standard ports (443 for HTTPS)

2. Options for Callback URLs

Option 1: Using a Domain

const daraja = new Daraja({
  callbackUrl: 'https://your-domain.com/mpesa/callback'
});

Option 2: Using Ngrok for Development

Install ngrok:

npm install -g ngrok

Start your Express server:

node server.js  # Running on port 3000

Start ngrok:

ngrok http 3000

Use the ngrok URL as your callback:

const daraja = new Daraja({
  callbackUrl: 'https://your-ngrok-url.ngrok.io/mpesa/callback'
});

3. Example with Domain Setup

Create your server file (server.js):

const express = require('express');
const Daraja = require('daraja-javascript-sdk');
const app = express();

// Parse JSON bodies
app.use(express.json());

// Initialize Daraja with your domain
const daraja = new Daraja({
  callbackUrl: 'https://your-domain.com/mpesa/callback'  // Your domain
});

// Endpoint to start payment
app.post('/start-payment', async (req, res) => {
  try {
    const result = await daraja.stkPush({
      phoneNumber: '254712345678',
      amount: 1,
      accountReference: 'TEST',
      transactionDesc: 'Test Payment'
    });
    res.json(result);
  } catch (error) {
    res.status(500).json({ error: error.message });
  }
});

// Callback endpoint that M-Pesa will call
app.post('/mpesa/callback', (req, res) => {
  const { Body } = req.body;
  
  if (Body.stkCallback) {
    if (Body.stkCallback.ResultCode === 0) {
      // Payment successful
      const items = Body.stkCallback.CallbackMetadata.Item;
      const amount = items.find(item => item.Name === 'Amount').Value;
      const receipt = items.find(item => item.Name === 'MpesaReceiptNumber').Value;
      
      console.log(`Received payment of ${amount} KSH, receipt: ${receipt}`);
      
      // TODO: Update your database
      // TODO: Notify your customer
    }
  }
  
  // Always respond to M-Pesa
  res.json({ ResultCode: 0, ResultDesc: "Success" });
});

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server running on port 3000');
});

Testing Callbacks

Local Development (using ngrok)

# Terminal 1: Start your server
node server.js

# Terminal 2: Start ngrok
ngrok http 3000

# Copy the HTTPS URL from ngrok output
# Example: https://abc123.ngrok.io

Production Domain

Point your domain to your server
Set up SSL certificate (required by M-Pesa)
Update your callback URL in the Daraja configuration

Common Callback Issues

Callback Not Received

Check if URL is publicly accessible
Verify HTTPS is properly set up
Ensure correct port is open
Check ngrok tunnel is running (if using ngrok)

Invalid Response

Always respond with:

res.json({ ResultCode: 0, ResultDesc: "Success" });

HTTPS Issues

M-Pesa requires valid SSL certificates
Self-signed certificates won't work
Use Let's Encrypt for free SSL certificates

Best Practices for Callbacks

Log Everything

app.post('/mpesa/callback', (req, res) => {
  // Log incoming callback
  console.log('Received callback:', JSON.stringify(req.body));
  
  // Process callback
  // ...
  
  // Log response
  console.log('Sending response to M-Pesa');
  res.json({ ResultCode: 0, ResultDesc: "Success" });
});

Handle Duplicate Callbacks

const processedTransactions = new Set();

app.post('/mpesa/callback', (req, res) => {
  const transactionId = req.body.Body.stkCallback.CheckoutRequestID;
  
  if (processedTransactions.has(transactionId)) {
    console.log('Duplicate transaction:', transactionId);
    return res.json({ ResultCode: 0, ResultDesc: "Success" });
  }
  
  processedTransactions.add(transactionId);
  // Process the payment...
});

Add Timeout Handling

// When starting payment
const result = await daraja.stkPush({...});

// Set timeout to check status
setTimeout(async () => {
  const status = await daraja.stkPushQuery({
    checkoutRequestId: result.CheckoutRequestID
  });
  
  if (status.ResultCode !== 0) {
    // Handle timeout
    console.log('Payment timed out');
  }
}, 60000); // Check after 1 minute

Remember:

Always use HTTPS in production
Keep your callback endpoint simple and fast
Log all requests and responses
Handle errors gracefully
Store transaction details in a database
Implement proper security measures

B2C Payment

Send money from your business to customers:

try {
  const response = await daraja.b2c({
    amount: 100,
    phoneNumber: '254712345678',
    commandID: 'BusinessPayment',  // or 'SalaryPayment', 'PromotionPayment'
    remarks: 'Refund'
  });
  
  console.log('B2C Response:', response);
} catch (error) {
  console.error('B2C Error:', error);
}

Transaction Status

Check the status of a transaction:

try {
  const response = await daraja.transactionStatus({
    transactionID: 'TRANSACTION_ID'
  });
  
  console.log('Status:', response);
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Status Check Error:', error);
}

Account Balance

Query your M-Pesa account balance:

try {
  const response = await daraja.accountBalance();
  console.log('Balance:', response);
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Balance Query Error:', error);
}

C2B (Customer to Business)

// Register URLs for C2B
try {
  const response = await daraja.c2bRegisterUrl({
    shortCode: '123456',  // Optional, uses businessShortCode by default
    responseType: 'Completed',  // Optional
    confirmationUrl: 'https://your-domain.com/mpesa/confirmation',
    validationUrl: 'https://your-domain.com/mpesa/validation'
  });
  
  console.log('C2B URLs registered:', response);
} catch (error) {
  console.error('C2B URL registration failed:', error);
}

// Simulate C2B payment (sandbox only)
try {
  const response = await daraja.c2bSimulate({
    amount: 100,
    phoneNumber: '254712345678',
    billRefNumber: 'TEST123'
  });
  
  console.log('C2B Simulation:', response);
} catch (error) {
  console.error('C2B Simulation failed:', error);
}

B2B (Business to Business)

Transfer money between businesses:

try {
  const response = await daraja.b2b({
    amount: 1000,
    receiverShortCode: '987654',
    commandID: 'BusinessToBusinessTransfer',  // Optional
    remarks: 'Supplier Payment'  // Optional
  });
  
  console.log('B2B Response:', response);
} catch (error) {
  console.error('B2B Transfer failed:', error);
}

Transaction Reversal

Reverse an M-Pesa transaction:

try {
  const response = await daraja.reversal({
    transactionID: 'ABCD1234',
    amount: 100,
    remarks: 'Wrong payment'  // Optional
  });
  
  console.log('Reversal Response:', response);
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Reversal failed:', error);
}

STK Push Status Query

Check the status of an STK push request:

try {
  const response = await daraja.stkPushQuery({
    checkoutRequestId: 'ws_CO_123456789'
  });
  
  console.log('STK Query Response:', response);
} catch (error) {
  console.error('STK Query failed:', error);
}

Testing

For testing purposes, use these sandbox credentials:

Business Shortcode: 174379
Pass Key: bfb279f9aa9bdbcf158e97dd71a467cd2e0c893059b10f78e6b72ada1ed2c919

Development

To contribute or modify the SDK:

Clone the repository
Install dependencies: npm install
Create a .env file with your test credentials
Run tests: npm test

License

MIT

Support

For support, please raise an issue in the GitHub repository or contact the maintainers.

Keywords

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Package last updated on 17 Mar 2025

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daraja-javascript-sdk