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Online payments are reshaping Kenya’s everyday economy

Africa News News African October 18, 2026 · Comments off

Every day, millions of Kenyans hail rides, order meals and pay for services without handling cash. These everyday conveniences reflect a significant shift in how people move, shop and transact, powered by payment systems that make digital commerce seamless and secure.

Kenya is widely recognised as one of Africa’s most dynamic digital payments markets.

More than 85 percent of Kenyan adults had access to financial services, mainly through digital platforms, as of 2025. Consumption trends also point to growing cashless transactions across formal and informal sectors.

This is a structural shift reshaping commerce, from small traders accepting contactless payments to ride-hailing, delivery and e-commerce platforms processing millions of transactions monthly.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are also embracing the transition. Visa research found that 84 per cent of surveyed Kenyan SMEs consider investment in payment technology crucial to business growth, while 68 per cent of those already accepting digital payments plan further in-vestment.

Cash remains costly for businesses. According to the research, 56 percent of cash-only SMEs reported losing business because customers lacked cash, while 91 per cent cited security concerns, including robbery and employee embezzlement.

These figures reflect business owners’ growing recognition that digital payments can improve efficiency, reduce risks and help capture sales.

E-hailing and on-demand delivery illustrate this transformation. Whether commuters are travel-ling to work, families ordering dinner or businesses fulfilling deliveries, digital payments allow transactions to happen without disrupting daily activities.

The process is designed to be effortless: customers select a payment method at checkout, transactions are processed in the background, and funds are settled. The best payment systems work reliably without demanding users’ attention.

Security remains essential to sustaining this trust. As more transactions move online, consumers expect protection against fraud, while businesses need dependable infrastructure to operate confidently.

Kenya’s digital economy will continue expanding, with secure, efficient payment systems providing an essential foundation for inclusive growth, business innovation and everyday convenience.

The writer is the Vice President and Head of East Africa, Visa

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