Specimen 01 · Kenya
M-Pesa
- Type
- Mobile money wallet
- Market
- Kenya
- Currency
- Kenyan shilling (KES)
- Direction
- Customer pay-ins and payouts
- Connection
- H2H API · Hosted Payment Page
- Status updates
- Postback to your server
Merchant payments · Kenya · KES
Rooted in M-Pesa. Payments built for business in Kenya.
Payment Gateway Kenya connects your website or app to M-Pesa, the mobile money service Kenyan customers already use every day. Accept online payments in KES through a direct API or a hosted payment page, receive every transaction status on your server and get merchant settlements sent the same day.
- Method
- M-Pesa
- Currency
- KES
- Integration
- H2H API · Hosted page
- Settlement period
- T+0
- Overall success rate
- 85%
The Kenyan payment landscape starts where customers already pay
In Kenya, the phone is the wallet. Safaricom's M-Pesa turned mobile money into everyday infrastructure, from rent and school fees to e-commerce orders, and online shoppers expect to see it at checkout. A gateway that treats mobile money transactions as an afterthought hurts the customer experience exactly where the customer decides whether to pay.
Our payment solution for Kenya is built around that habit. Instead of a long menu of payment options that are only partly live, the Kenya route focuses on one local payment method and handles it end to end: creating the transaction, guiding the customer to approve it on their mobile phone, reporting the result to your server and settling your earnings.
Local payment methods in Kenya you can switch on today
We list what actually processes payments. On the Kenya route, that is one method, connected properly.
The payment process: how you receive payments, from checkout to settlement
Every M-Pesa transaction follows the same route through the gateway. Your system stays in control of the order; the gateway handles the payment and reports back through the API.
Your server creates the transaction
Send the amount in KES, your order reference and the customer details to the API, and keep your API keys securely on the server. The gateway returns everything you need to start the payment.
The customer pays with M-Pesa
The customer approves the payment on their mobile phone, either on the hosted payment page or inside the checkout you built with the H2H integration.
A postback reports the status
The gateway sends the transaction status to your webhook endpoint. Your project shows the result to the customer: the gateway notifies your system, not the shopper directly.
You fulfil the order
Match the status with the order reference and amount, then ship the goods, unlock the service or top up the balance shown in your own dashboard.
Settlement is sent the same day
Merchant settlements run on a T+0 period, so your earnings are sent on the day. When the transfer reaches your bank account depends on the receiving bank.
Two ways to accept payments, one gateway
H2H and the Hosted Payment Page are connection methods for the same payment gateway, not separate products. Pick the one that fits your team and your checkout.
Layer 01 · For developers
H2H APIs for your own checkout
Host-to-host means your server talks to ours through our APIs. You design the checkout, keep the customer on your pages for the steps you control and receive statuses by postback. It suits teams with backend developers who want full control of the payment flow inside their own e-commerce or platform logic. H2H is a technical integration, not a white-label licence.
- Server-to-server API requests
- Postback statuses to your endpoint
- Your own checkout design
Layer 02 · Fastest launch
Hosted Payment Page for a faster launch
Send the customer to a payment page hosted by the gateway. The customer completes the M-Pesa payment there and returns to your site afterwards. It is the quicker, seamless route when you want to launch without building payment screens, and it works for websites and for Android apps that open the page in the browser.
- No payment screens to build
- Return to your site after payment
- Same API statuses and postbacks
What happens after the customer pays
- Pay-ins
- Customer payments in KES, each one linked to your own order reference. Every deposit, withdrawal and settlement is visible in the merchant portal, with CSV reports for finance.
- Payouts
- Send money to your users through M-Pesa in KES, for example withdrawals from a gaming, betting or trading account. Payouts run through the same API and are switched on as part of your project setup.
- Settlement: T+0
- Merchant settlement is a separate flow from customer payouts. Your earnings are sent the same day, with no holds or rolling reserves.
- Success rate: 85%
- Across all transactions on the platform, 85% are successful: successful transactions divided by the total number of transactions. It is an overall figure, not a Kenya-specific or guaranteed rate.
A payment solution for online businesses that live on repeat payments
The gateway helps merchants streamline payments from customers who pay online and often pay again, including the verticals that card-first providers often decline. Businesses registered outside Kenya can apply too.
Online casino and betting
Player deposits and fast withdrawals for sportsbooks, casinos and lottery products.
Gaming and iGaming
Top-ups and payouts for game platforms, skill games and in-game wallets.
Esports
Tournament entries, wallet top-ups and in-platform balances.
Forex and trading platforms
Account funding in local currency for traders based in Kenya.
Dating and social platforms
Memberships and credits that customers pay for from their phone.
Adult entertainment
Content subscriptions, tips and credits paid locally in KES.
Crypto platforms
Local fiat top-ups with M-Pesa. We are not a crypto payment gateway and do not process blockchain transfers.
E-commerce and international merchants
Online stores and cross-border brands entering the Kenyan market that need a local method instead of foreign cards.
Payment infrastructure in Kenya, in plain words
Payment providers use overlapping terms. Here is what each one means when you accept online payments with M-Pesa.
Payment gateway
The technology that creates the transaction, connects your checkout to the payment method and returns the result. It is the part you integrate.
Payment processor
Moves the transaction between the parties behind the scenes. For mobile money payments in Kenya you rarely integrate a processor directly.
Payment service provider
The regulated business that offers payment services. Payment service providers in Kenya are overseen by the Central Bank of Kenya.
Digital wallet
An account on the mobile phone that holds money, such as M-Pesa. For many customers it is the preferred payment method online.
Point of sale
POS terminals handle in-person card and wallet payments in shops. This gateway is for online payments: websites, apps and platforms that collect payments from anywhere in the country.
Postback
A server-to-server message that carries the transaction status. It is how your system learns that a customer has paid.
Because M-Pesa is a digital wallet rather than a card scheme, card rules such as PCI DSS scope for stored card data and credit card chargebacks do not shape your checkout the way they would for card acceptance. You still need clear refund terms and good customer data handling on your side: the payment is secure only when your own system checks every status before it releases goods.
Choose the right payment gateway for your business in Kenya
Lists of the best payment gateways in Kenya usually put local aggregators such as Pesapal next to international payment processors and M-Pesa specialists. There is no single best payment gateway in Kenya for every business: a ranking helps you build a shortlist, but the right choice depends on a few practical questions. Ask every provider the same ones.
| Question to ask | Why it matters | Our answer |
|---|---|---|
| Which payment methods are live in Kenya? | A long row of logos means little if half of them are not connected. | M-Pesa in KES. |
| Who supervises the provider? | The Central Bank of Kenya oversees payment service providers under the National Payment System Act. | Ask us for licensing and contract details during onboarding. |
| How do I integrate? | Developer time is part of the real price of any payment solution. | H2H API or Hosted Payment Page. |
| How will I know a transaction succeeded? | A closed browser tab is not a payment result. | Server postbacks with the transaction status. |
| When is money settled? | Cash flow decides how quickly you can reinvest. | T+0: settlements are sent the same day. |
| What does it cost to grow? | Transaction fees are only part of the bill; extra methods often add setup costs. | Adding supported methods is free for connected merchants. |
| Can I pay my users out? | Withdrawals matter as much as deposits for gaming and trading. | Yes: M-Pesa payouts in KES through the same API. |
If your finance team reports in USD or another currency, ask how settlement currency and conversion are handled before you sign. It affects reconciliation more than the headline rate.
Start with payments in Kenya, grow cross-border
Once your account is live, you can expand to other supported markets with the same integration. Adding supported payment methods for an existing merchant costs nothing extra, and the number of methods you connect does not change the connection price.
Beyond Africa, the gateway covers 23 countries across Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, so one integration can serve Kenya and beyond while each customer pays with local methods.
- EthiopiaTelebirr, CBE Birr, M-Pesa
- MaliWave, Orange Money, Moov
- SenegalWave, Orange Money
- GuineaOrange Money
- TunisiaD17, Flouci
- EgyptDigital wallets
Questions merchants ask before choosing a payment gateway
What is a payment gateway in Kenya?
A payment gateway is the layer between your website or app and the payment system. It creates the transaction, takes the customer to the payment method, reports the result and settles the money. Across Kenya that usually means connecting to M-Pesa, because it is the preferred payment method for many customers who pay online.
Which payment methods can I accept?
M-Pesa, in Kenyan shillings (KES). Card payments, bank transfers and other mobile money wallets are not on the current Kenya list.
Do you offer payment links or QR codes?
No. The gateway does not offer standalone payment links or a QR generator for one-off invoices. Every payment is created by your system through the API or the hosted payment page.
How does my site know an online payment went through?
The gateway sends a postback with the transaction status to your server. Check the status, amount and order reference before you fulfil the order, and keep the order pending until the status arrives.
How quickly do I receive payments as a merchant?
The settlement period is T+0: merchant settlements are sent on the same day. The time it takes the money to appear in your bank account depends on the receiving bank.
How much does the gateway cost?
Pricing depends on your business and is agreed during onboarding. Once you are connected, adding other supported payment methods is free, and the number of methods you connect does not change the connection price.
Can I accept mobile payments inside an app?
Yes, through the hosted payment page: your Android app opens the payment page in the browser, the customer pays, and your app reads the status from your server. A native in-app SDK is not part of the offer.
Which industries do you work with?
Online casinos and betting, gaming and esports, forex and trading, dating, adult entertainment, crypto platforms, e-commerce and digital services. Companies registered outside Kenya can apply as well; required documents are agreed during onboarding.
Can I send payouts to customers in Kenya?
Yes. M-Pesa withdrawals in KES run through the same API as deposits, with a postback for every result. Payouts are switched on as part of your project setup.
Can international customers pay through the Kenya route?
The Kenya route collects KES through M-Pesa. If you also sell to international customers in other markets, ask about the payment methods supported there: international payments are handled market by market rather than through one card network.
How do I start?
Send your details through the merchant onboarding form. Our customer support team, available 24/7, reviews your business, agrees pricing and explains the integration process before sharing API access for testing. Developers can read the integration guide in the meantime.
Ready to take M-Pesa payments?
Tell us about your project and the payments you need to accept. We will walk you through onboarding, integration and settlement.
Start onboarding