Kenya
Mobile money is the default way to pay online in Kenya. Shoppers pay through M-Pesa, usually by sending money to a merchant’s Paybill number or by approving a payment prompt pushed to their phone, and Airtel Money is the main alternative. Safaricom held 88.8% of mobile money transfer subscriptions at the end of June 2026, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya, so M-Pesa acceptance is essential. Visa and Mastercard cards are used by a smaller group: in 2024 only 20% of adults owned a debit card, according to the World Bank Global Findex. Cash on delivery is still common for online orders. Merchants should price in Kenyan shillings (KES) and offer M-Pesa first, with cards second.
- Online
M-Pesa, by far the most used · Airtel Money · Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, held by a minority of adults · cash on delivery
- In store
M-Pesa Till numbers · Airtel Money · cash, supported by a large agent network · Visa and Mastercard contactless cards in supermarkets and formal retail
methods used in Kenya
accepted here, and everywhere
Card schemes and wallets that are not particular to Kenya
currencies
In-store payments in Kenya
In shops, M-Pesa Till numbers (Buy Goods) are the standard way to pay digitally: the customer enters the till number on their phone and the merchant receives the funds instantly. Supermarkets and small traders alike display till numbers. Visa and Mastercard contactless cards are accepted at card terminals in formal retail, but card ownership is low. Cash is still widely used, supported by 575,400 active mobile money agents in July 2026 who handle cash-in and cash-out. The World Bank Global Findex found that 54% of adults used a card or phone to pay in a store in 2024.
E-commerce in Kenya
According to the World Bank Global Findex, 21% of adults in Kenya used a mobile phone or the internet to buy something online in 2024; 12% paid digitally for an online purchase and 9% paid cash on delivery. Marketplaces include Jumia and Kilimall, alongside food and grocery delivery apps. Mobile money subscriptions reached 54.0 million by 30 June 2026, equal to 101.3% penetration, and Paybill and Till numbers are used by utilities, schools, supermarkets and small traders alike. Merchants need shilling pricing, an M-Pesa collection option and clear delivery terms.
Payment regulation in Kenya
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) regulates payments under the National Payment System Act 2011 and the National Payment System Regulations 2014, which cover the authorisation and oversight of payment service providers, designation of payment systems and instruments, and anti-money laundering measures. CBK authorises e-money issuers, small e-money issuers, electronic retail transfer providers and designated payment instrument operators, and publishes a directory of authorised providers. Under its National Payments Strategy 2022–2025, CBK worked with providers to complete full mobile money interoperability in July 2022. Personal data processing falls under the Data Protection Act 2019, overseen by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
Banking and financial inclusion
Account ownership in Kenya is driven by mobile money. According to the World Bank Global Findex, 90% of adults had an account in 2024, up from 79% in 2021; 88% had a mobile money account but only 45% an account at a bank or similar institution, and 88% made a digital payment. CBK recorded 94.35 million registered mobile money accounts and 575,400 active agents in July 2026.
What are the most popular payment methods in Kenya?
Which payment providers operate in Kenya?
Which currencies can merchants accept in Kenya?
Sources · 6
- Central Bank of Kenya: Mobile payments statistics
- Central Bank of Kenya: National Payments System
- Central Bank of Kenya: Kenya’s Payments Journey (2023)
- Communications Authority of Kenya: Sector Statistics Report Q4 2025-2026
- World Bank Global Findex Database (account ownership, Kenya)
- World Bank: The Global Findex Database 2025
Guide researched September 2026. Payment markets change quickly — check with providers before relying on it. Compiled from public sources. How we compile this