Market guide · Africa
Selling in Kenya
M-Pesa is the centre of Kenyan payments, used for everything from groceries to rent. A checkout without mobile money will miss most local shoppers.
| Currency | Kenyan shilling (KES) |
|---|---|
| Languages | English, Swahili |
| Region | Africa |
| Local acquiring | Available |
| Settlement | T+1 |
| Payout rail | M-Pesa B2C / PesaLink · Seconds |
| Import consumption tax | VAT · 16% |
Popular payment methods
Share of online payments by method. Illustrative figures.
| M-Pesa | 70% (70% of online payments) |
|---|---|
| Visa, Mastercard, Amex | 20% (20% of online payments) |
| PayPal | 3% (3% of online payments) |
How to launch in Kenya
- 1Open a sandbox accountTest every flow for Kenya with test cards and methods before you sign anything.
- 2Turn on local methodsStart with M-Pesa, PayPal.
- 3Process domesticallyDomestic processing in Kenya avoids cross-border fees and lifts approval rates.
- 4Settle in KESHold KES and convert when you choose, or pay out locally.
- 5Check import rulesConfirm how VAT is collected on your goods before your first shipment.
- 6Go liveVerify your business, switch your keys and watch the first orders arrive.
Duties and import tax
VAT at 16% applies to most imported goods.
Thresholds: Most imports are dutiable; digital marketplace sales are taxed
Regulatory notes
- The Central Bank of Kenya regulates mobile money and payment service providers.
- Digital service tax rules apply to some non-resident platforms.
Placeholder notes for the prototype, not legal advice.
Customer story nearby
Ferrous Pay
Fintech
4
card programmes launched in 18 months · Illustrative
We wanted to build the product, not the plumbing. Issuing and settlement in one place let us do that.
Chidi Okafor, Chief Product Officer Read the story: Ferrous Pay