Payment providers in Kenya

Payment service providers in Kenya

Kenya is the home of mobile money: M-Pesa is used by the vast majority of adults, and most online payments, salaries and betting deposits move through it. This page lists {count} payment gateways and payin payout providers working with Kenyan shillings (KES).

Local payment methods in Kenya

• Mobile money: M-Pesa (Paybill, Till/Buy Goods, STK Push prompts on the customer's phone) and Airtel Money.
• Bank transfers via PesaLink and RTGS for larger amounts.
• Cards for e-commerce and travel, mostly among higher-income users.
• QR and local APMs; crypto used in P2P markets.

Mass payouts and B2C

B2C disbursements to mobile wallets power betting withdrawals, loan disbursements, gig-worker pay and marketplace payouts. Compare per-transaction fees by amount band, API reliability, and float/prefunding requirements — see payouts.

Regulation

Payment service providers and e-money issuers are licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). Betting operators are licensed by the Betting Control and Licensing Board and pay excise and withholding taxes, which affects margins on deposits and withdrawals. Digital lenders also need CBK licensing.

Betting, iGaming and high-risk

Sports betting is one of the largest online verticals in Kenya. Providers serving it need direct Paybill integrations, fast STK Push and reliable B2C payouts at peak times. Forex and crypto merchants should ask about source-of-funds checks and per-wallet limits. See high-risk merchants.

How to choose

• Direct Safaricom integration vs aggregated access
• STK Push success rate, callback speed, reversal handling
• Payout limits per transaction and per day
• Settlement in KES vs USD/USDT

Related: banks in Kenya, liquidity, teams in Kenya, Kenyan merchants, mobile money PSPs. Post a request.