Kenya
Kenya
The digital economy is growing impressively, as highlighted by the range of statistics disseminated showing the increased adoption of online services and means of payment.
groups
46 million
Population
diversity_3
23 million
Online population
payments
47%
Banked population
Best Payment Gateways in Kenya
Below is a table summarizing key characteristics of the top online payment methods in Kenya.
| Peyments gateway | Rate | Fee | Country | Currency | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Paykassma | 1000$ | Kenya | USD | Open |
Factors to Review When Selecting a Reliable Payment Gateway in Kenya
Several factors should be considered when choosing a service provider, and the following are some of the critical ones that will help meet their peculiar needs:
- Security. This aspect is paramount. Payment service providers in Kenya should ensure the security of the transactions through PCI-DSS compliance.
- Integration. The gateway to consider should allow integration with all your existing business systems for seamless operation.
- Speed of transaction. The faster the transaction is processed, the greater the customer satisfaction. See which gateway provides speedy authorization and settlement.
- Cost structure. Setup fees, transactional fees, and maintenance costs are involved. Some companies offer competitive rates based on the size of their businesses.
- Customer support. Strong support must be available whenever issues need to be quickly dealt with.
- Accepted payment methods. The gateway should be able to accept popular local and international operations such as credit/debit cards and mobile wallets.
- Mobile compatibility. The payment gateway should be compatible with mobile transactions.
All these factors are equally critical.
DPO Group
One of the best online payment methods in Kenya, giving its businesses a fast, secure, and reliable avenue for transactional business.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Business registration documents and Know Your Customer verification |
| Accepted methods | Visa, MasterCard, M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Tigo, MTN & Vodafone |
| Available countries | Kenya, Botswana, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa |
| Supported currencies | KES, USD, EUR, GBP, BWP, UGX, XOF, TZS, ZMW, TZS, GHS, MWK, NAD, NGN, RWF, ZAR |
| RequirementsBusiness registration documents and Know Your Customer verification | |
| Accepted methodsVisa, MasterCard, M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Tigo, MTN & Vodafone | |
| Available countriesKenya, Botswana, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa | |
| Supported currenciesKES, USD, EUR, GBP, BWP, UGX, XOF, TZS, ZMW, TZS, GHS, MWK, NAD, NGN, RWF, ZAR |
Pros
- Effective fraud case detection and prevention mechanisms.
- Both local and international means of payment are supported.
- Customer support is available 24/7.
Cons
- The transaction fees are a bit higher.
- The integration can get complex for smaller businesses.
Flutterwave
Flutterwave is another leading African fintech company that offers businesses a scalable and secure way of making and accepting transactions.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Registered business and documents to pass KYC verification |
| Accepted methods | Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay, IBAN transfer, Google Pay, USSD, Bank Transfer, QR codes, Mobile Money, M-Pesa |
| Available countries | Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe |
| Supported currencies | AED, ARS, AUD, BRL, CAD, CHF, CZK, EGP, ETB, EUR, GBP, GHS, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, MAD, MUR, MYR, NGN, NOK, NZD, PEN, PLN, RUB, RWF, SAR, SEK, SGD, SLL, TZS, UGX, USD, XAF, XOF, ZAR, ZMK, ZMW, MWK |
| RequirementsRegistered business and documents to pass KYC verification | |
| Accepted methodsVisa, MasterCard, Apple Pay, IBAN transfer, Google Pay, USSD, Bank Transfer, QR codes, Mobile Money, M-Pesa | |
| Available countriesKenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe | |
| Supported currenciesAED, ARS, AUD, BRL, CAD, CHF, CZK, EGP, ETB, EUR, GBP, GHS, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, MAD, MUR, MYR, NGN, NOK, NZD, PEN, PLN, RUB, RWF, SAR, SEK, SGD, SLL, TZS, UGX, USD, XAF, XOF, ZAR, ZMK, ZMW, MWK |
Pros
- Various payment options can be accepted, including cards, bank transfers, and e wallets in Kenya.
- The user experience for merchants and customers is user-friendly.
- Relatively low transaction fees compared to other gateways.
Cons
- You may experience delays in settlements.
- Not all the small local banks may be supported.
iPay Africa
iPay Africa is also in the list of major payment gateways, providing an e-platform for SMEs and bigger businesses.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Business registration details and KYC documents |
| Accepted methods | Visa, MasterCard, Union Pay, M-PESA, Airtel Money, Vooma, EazzyPay, Pesalink |
| Available countries | Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zambia |
| Supported currencies | KES, UGX, TZS, RWF, NGN, ZMW |
| RequirementsBusiness registration details and KYC documents | |
| Accepted methodsVisa, MasterCard, Union Pay, M-PESA, Airtel Money, Vooma, EazzyPay, Pesalink | |
| Available countriesKenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zambia | |
| Supported currenciesKES, UGX, TZS, RWF, NGN, ZMW |
Pros
- It has a high focus on local opearations.
- Easy integration with online stores and apps.
- Very competitive in transaction fees, especially for SMEs.
Cons
- Very few international payment methods are supported
- Customer service might respond more slowly during peak hours.
Jambopay
Jambopay is an online and mobile payment gateway in Kenya. This is one of the favorite among businesses, government institutions, and utility providers.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Kenyan business registration documents and KYC (Know Your Customer) details for verification |
| Accepted methods | M-Pesa, Airtel Money, VISA, MasterCard, Union Pay, Partner banks (32 banks) |
| Available countries | Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania |
| Supported currencies | KES, UGX, TZS, RWF |
| RequirementsKenyan business registration documents and KYC (Know Your Customer) details for verification | |
| Accepted methodsM-Pesa, Airtel Money, VISA, MasterCard, Union Pay, Partner banks (32 banks) | |
| Available countriesKenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania | |
| Supported currenciesKES, UGX, TZS, RWF |
Pros
- Has a strong local presence
- Transacting supports the government and private sectors.
- Efficient customer support with a dispute resolution mechanism.
Cons
- Has limitations concerning international options.
- Integration might be a bit complex for non-tech-savvy businesses.
Jenga
Under Jenga, the processing occurs on a secure platform, so businesses looking for payment gateways in Kenya with support from a trusted bank find it an attractive deal.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Business registration documents and KYC verification |
| Accepted methods | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Union Pay, JCB, Diners Club, Equitel, M-Pesa, Wire Transfer |
| Available countries | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda |
| Supported currencies | KES, TZS, UGX, USD, EUR, GBP |
| RequirementsBusiness registration documents and KYC verification | |
| Accepted methodsVisa, Mastercard, American Express, Union Pay, JCB, Diners Club, Equitel, M-Pesa, Wire Transfer | |
| Available countriesKenya, Tanzania, Uganda | |
| Supported currenciesKES, TZS, UGX, USD, EUR, GBP |
Pros
- Support by one of the leading banks increases the trust and reliability in the platform.
- Very good local support for integrations and technical issues was experienced.
- Seamless integration with other financial services offered by Equity Bank.
Cons
- Very limited support for international payment methods.
- Transaction fees are high for non-Equity Bank customers.
JumiaPay
This payment gateway is committed to fostering better online shopping experiences by offering various methods and features to suit e-commerce transactions.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Business registration documents and documents to pass the KYC verification |
| Accepted methods | Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, mobile wallets, wire transfers |
| Available countries | Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa |
| Supported currencies | KES, NGN, EGP, MAD, XOF, ZAR |
| RequirementsBusiness registration documents and documents to pass the KYC verification | |
| Accepted methodsVisa, MasterCard, PayPal, mobile wallets, wire transfers | |
| Available countriesKenya, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa | |
| Supported currenciesKES, NGN, EGP, MAD, XOF, ZAR |
Pros
- Tight integration with Jumia’s e-commerce ecosystem.
- It does have promotions and rewards exclusively for JumiaPay customers.
- The platform is secure and easy to use, especially for online shoppers.
Cons
- Primarily designed for Jumia’s marketplace
- Limited support for international transactions outside its network.
Kopokopo
Kopokopo is one of the most popular payment service providers in Kenya. It has focused on providing SMEs to ensure the receipt and management of mobile money transactions.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Business registration documents and KYC verification |
| Accepted methods | M-Pesa, Airtel Money |
| Available countries | Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania |
| Supported currencies | KES, TZS, RWF |
| RequirementsBusiness registration documents and KYC verification | |
| Accepted methodsM-Pesa, Airtel Money | |
| Available countriesKenya, Rwanda, Tanzania | |
| Supported currenciesKES, TZS, RWF |
Pros
- Pretty focused on mobile money paying, so it suits SMEs.
- It has other business tools like SMS marketing and loyalty programs.
- Competitive transaction fees with flexible pricing plans.
Cons
- Limited support for credit/debit card operations.
- International reach, but focused on the local market.
Paystack
Paystack is one of the fast-growing payment methods in Kenya, making it varied for local and international transactions.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Registered business and KYC documents |
| Accepted methods | Visa, MasterCard, Bank account, Wire transfer, USSD, Apple Pay, Visa QR, MTN, AirtelTigo, Vodafone, M-Pesa |
| Available countries | Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya |
| Supported currencies | GHS, NGN, ZAR, KES, USD |
| RequirementsRegistered business and KYC documents | |
| Accepted methodsVisa, MasterCard, Bank account, Wire transfer, USSD, Apple Pay, Visa QR, MTN, AirtelTigo, Vodafone, M-Pesa | |
| Available countriesGhana, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya | |
| Supported currenciesGHS, NGN, ZAR, KES, USD |
Pros
- Supports various methods, from mobile money to card-based ones.
- Easy integrations with e-commerce platforms and apps.
- Low transaction fees on local operations.
Cons
- Poor customer support for non-enterprise users.
- All local banks do not support direct bank transfers.
Peach Payments
Peach Payments is among secure and flexible payment methods in Kenya. This system is highly practical in e-commerce, hospitality, and service industries.
| Requirements | Kenyan business registration and KYC documents |
|---|---|
| Accepted methods | Mastercard, Visa, Amex, Diners, Pay by Bank, Capitec Pay, Nedbank Direct EFT, Mobicred, Scan to Pay (QR code), PayPal, Payflex, 1 Voucher, ZeroPay, Apple Pay, RCS Cards |
| Available countries | Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius |
| Supported currencies | ZAR, KES, MUR, USD, EUR |
| Accepted methodsMastercard, Visa, Amex, Diners, Pay by Bank, Capitec Pay, Nedbank Direct EFT, Mobicred, Scan to Pay (QR code), PayPal, Payflex, 1 Voucher, ZeroPay, Apple Pay, RCS Cards | |
| Available countriesKenya, South Africa, Mauritius | |
| Supported currenciesZAR, KES, MUR, USD, EUR |
Pros
- Great fraud prevention methods are put in place.
- It offers a wide variety of options, including mobile money and cards.
- Easy integration with leading e-commerce platforms
Cons
- Less local support is given.
- Slightly higher fees are applied for international transactions.
Pesapal
Pesapal is one of the most established online payment methods in Kenya, offering integrated, secure solutions on online, mobile, and point-of-sale transactions.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Registered business and documents for KYC process |
| Accepted methods | Visa, MasterCard, Co-op Mobile, Eazzy 24/7, M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Yu Cash, MTN money, Vodacom |
| Available countries | Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Supported currencies | KES, MWK, RWF, TZS, UGX, ZMW, ZWL, USD |
| RequirementsRegistered business and documents for KYC process | |
| Accepted methodsVisa, MasterCard, Co-op Mobile, Eazzy 24/7, M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Yu Cash, MTN money, Vodacom | |
| Available countriesKenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe | |
| Supported currenciesKES, MWK, RWF, TZS, UGX, ZMW, ZWL, USD |
Pros
- Very great local presence with a wide acceptance of mobile money
- Easy integration with major e-commerce platforms.
- Reliable customer support for businesses.
Cons
- Fewer international options.
- Fees are relatively higher if the amount of the transaction is small.
Skrill
Skrill is one of the popular e wallets in Kenya for cross-border transactions and e-commerce.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Registered business and documents for KYC process |
| Accepted methods | Visa, MasterCard, bank account, M-Pesa |
| Available countries | 131 countries, including Kenya |
| Supported currencies | KES, USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, BDT, BRL, INR, IDR, MYR, MXN, NPR, PKR, PHP, PLN, LKR, THB, VND |
| RequirementsRegistered business and documents for KYC process | |
| Accepted methodsVisa, MasterCard, bank account, M-Pesa | |
| Available countries131 countries, including Kenya | |
| Supported currenciesKES, USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, BDT, BRL, INR, IDR, MYR, MXN, NPR, PKR, PHP, PLN, LKR, THB, VND |
Pros
- Accepted in most currencies, making it perfect for international transactions.
- Easy-to-use interface for the digital wallet.
- Money sent and received via Skrill is cheaper.
Cons
- Local options to pay are not that well-supported.
- High transaction fees regarding conversion and withdrawal of money.
Paykassma
Paykassma is a comprehensive payment aggregator operating in Kenya, offering businesses and consumers a seamless platform for online transactions.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Registered business and KYC documentation |
| Accepted Methods | Visa, MasterCard, bank transfers, M-Pesa |
| Available Countries | Multiple countries, including Kenya |
| Supported Currencies | KES, USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, BDT, BRL, INR, IDR, MYR, MXN, NPR, PKR, PHP, PLN, LKR, THB, VND |
| RequirementsRegistered business and KYC documentation | |
| Accepted MethodsVisa, MasterCard, bank transfers, M-Pesa | |
| Available CountriesMultiple countries, including Kenya | |
| Supported CurrenciesKES, USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, BDT, BRL, INR, IDR, MYR, MXN, NPR, PKR, PHP, PLN, LKR, THB, VND |
Pros
- Compatible with numerous currencies, facilitating international transactions.
- Provides an intuitive platform for managing payments.
- Competitive fees for sending and receiving money.
Cons
- Some local payment methods may not be supported.
- Certain transactions may incur higher fees, particularly for currency conversion and withdrawals.
FAQ
Which payment gateway is best?
The best gateway depends on your specific business needs. For mobile transactions, consider M-Pesa and Kopokopo. For international and multi-channel transactions, consider Flutterwave and DPO Group.
What is the international payment gateway?
Among the top international gateways are Flutterwave and Paystack. These have cross-border transactions and support multiple currencies.
What is the most popular payment method?
M-Pesa is embedded in African culture. In addition to peer-to-peer transfers, it is used to conduct business transactions and pay bills.
