Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up M-Pesa Daraja and WooCommerce Plugin

Here's a comprehensive guide to implementing M-Pesa payments on your WooCommerce store:

Part 1: Setting Up M-Pesa Daraja API

Step 1: Register for Daraja API Access

1. Go to the Safaricom Developer Portal
2. Create an account or log in if you already have one
3. Navigate to "My Applications" and create a new application
4. Select "M-Pesa Express (STK Push)" as your API type

Step 2: Get Your API Credentials

1. Note down your:
   • Consumer Key
   • Consumer Secret
   • Passkey (found under Lipa Na M-Pesa Online)
   • Shortcode (Paybill or Till number)

Step 3: Configure Daraja Environment

1. For Sandbox Testing:

   • Use test credentials provided in the developer portal
   • Test numbers: 254708374149, 254703459309, etc.

2. For Production:

   • Submit your business documents for approval
   • Once approved, activate your production environment
   • Use your live Paybill/Till number and credentials

Part 2: Installing and Configuring the Plugin

Step 1: Install the Plugin

1. In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins > Add New
2. Click "Upload Plugin" and select your woo-mpesa-gateway.zip file
3. Click "Install Now" then "Activate Plugin"

Step 2: Configure Plugin Settings

1. Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments

2. Find "M-Pesa" in the payment methods list and click "Set up"

3. Configure the following settings:

   • Enable/Disable: Check to enable
   • Title: "M-Pesa" (or your preferred display name)
   • Description: "Pay via M-Pesa STK Push"
   • Instructions: Add payment instructions for customers
   • Consumer Key: Your Daraja API consumer key
   • Consumer Secret: Your Daraja API consumer secret
   • Shortcode: Your Paybill or Till number
   • Passkey: Your Lipa Na M-Pesa Online passkey
   • Sandbox Mode: Enable for testing, disable for production

4. Click "Save changes"

Step 3: Set Up Callback URL

1. In your Daraja API settings on the Safaricom portal:

   • Set your callback URL to: https://yourdomain.com/wc-api/mpesa_callback
   • (Replace "yourdomain.com" with your actual domain)

2. In WordPress, go to Settings > Permalinks

   • Click "Save Changes" to flush rewrite rules (no need to change settings)

Part 3: Testing Your Setup

Sandbox Testing

1. Place a test order on your site
2. Select M-Pesa as payment method
3. Use test phone numbers (254708374149, etc.)
4. Enter test PIN: 174379
5. Verify payment is processed correctly

Testing Callbacks

1. Use a tool like Postman to simulate callbacks
2. Send test payload to your callback URL
3. Check WooCommerce orders to verify status changes

Part 4: Going Live

1. Once testing is successful:

   • Disable Sandbox mode in plugin settings
   • Enter your production credentials
   • Submit your production application if not already done

2. Verify with real transactions:

   • Start with small test amounts
   • Confirm payments reflect in your M-Pesa account

Troubleshooting Tips

1. API Errors:

   • Verify all credentials are correct
   • Check Daraja API status page for outages

2. Callback Issues:

   • Ensure your server can receive POST requests
   • Check WooCommerce logs for errors

3. Common Problems:

   • "Invalid consumer key/secret" → Regenerate credentials
   • "Request timeout" → Check your server's internet connection
   • "Callback not received" → Verify URL is correct and accessible

Maintenance

1. Regularly:

   • Check for plugin updates
   • Monitor transaction logs
   • Renew API tokens before expiry

2. Security:

   • Keep API credentials secure
   • Implement SSL certificate (HTTPS)
   • Regularly update WordPress and WooCommerce

This complete setup will give you a fully functional M-Pesa payment gateway integrated with WooCommerce. The plugin handles the STK Push process automatically, providing a seamless payment experience for your customers.