CBK-licensed Payment Service Providers in Kenya (2026)
Kenya has 43 CBK-authorized Payment Service Providers as at 17 June 2026, per the Central Bank of Kenya's Directory of Authorized PSPs published on 7 August 2026. This page lists all 43, categorised by what CBK has authorised each PSP to do, with the license date, chief executive, contact block and how to verify. Primary source: the CBK Directory PDF (linked at the bottom of every entry).
The 43 at a glance
9
Full mobile money PSP
7
Mobile money processing PSP
22
Merchant payment gateway
3
Payment infrastructure operator
2
Special-scope PSP
Full directory (filter by category)
Click a chip below to filter, or scroll for the full split. Every row links to the per-PSP page with the full contact block and license scope.
Full mobile money PSP
Authorised to issue e-money, process transactions, hold customer balances, transmit funds and operate a merchant acquiring platform. This is the widest PSP scope CBK grants.
| Legal name | Trading name | Licensed since | Chief executive | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safaricom PLC | M-PESA | 01 Jan 2016 | CEO Mr. Peter Ndegwa | Open |
| Airtel Money Kenya Limited | Airtel Money | 21 Jan 2022 | Managing Director Ms. Anne Kinuthia-Otieno | Open |
| Telkom Kenya Limited | T-Kash | 01 Jan 2018 | CEO Mr. Mugo Kibati | Open |
| Viewtech Limited | SasaPay | 15 Sept 2021 | CEO Mr. Stephen Kaguchia | Open |
| Finserve Africa Limited | Equitel | 01 Jan 2022 | Managing Director Mr. Alvin Okari | Open |
| Web Tribe Limited | JamboPay | 10 Feb 2022 | CEO Mr. Danson Muchemi | Open |
| Afrinet Global & Company Limited | — | 05 Mar 2024 | Managing Director Allan Mukui | Open |
| Kashia Services Limited | Cashia | 14 Aug 2023 | CEO Mr. Chris Mwirigi Kaumbuthu | Open |
| Whizmo Limited | — | 15 May 2026 | CEO Mr. Ronald Kibaara Meru | Open |
Mobile money processing PSP
Authorised to process, transmit and facilitate mobile money transactions plus operate a merchant acquiring platform. Does not issue e-money in its own right; rides on the issuers above.
| Legal name | Trading name | Licensed since | Chief executive | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellulant Kenya Limited | — | 01 Jan 2022 | Country Manager Ms. Catherine Wangechi | Open |
| Pesapal Limited | Pesapal | 01 Jun 2021 | CEO Mr. Agosta Liko | Open |
| Loop Payco Limited | Loop | 06 Feb 2023 | CEO Mr. Eric Muriuki Njagi | Open |
| Jumia Payment Services Kenya Limited | JumiaPay | 06 Apr 2023 | CEO Ms. Mary Wanjiku Wamwea | Open |
| Umsuka Capital Limited | — | 29 Jun 2023 | CEO Mr. Peter Karimi Maina | Open |
| Fivespot Kenya Limited | iPay Africa | 25 Oct 2021 | CEO Mr. Philip Nyamwaya | Open |
| Paykit Kenya Limited | — | 24 Dec 2024 | CEO Beatrice Ngina Okeyo | Open |
Merchant payment gateway
Authorised to operate a merchant payment platform, letting businesses accept card, mobile money and bank payments through a single integration.
| Legal name | Trading name | Licensed since | Chief executive | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craft Silicon Limited | — | 05 Aug 2022 | CEO Parminder Budhabhatti | Open |
| Virtual Pay International Limited | Virtual Pay | 05 Aug 2022 | Not published | Open |
| Direct Pay Limited | DPO Group | 05 Aug 2022 | Managing Director Ms. Judy Waruiru | Open |
| Pesawise Services Limited | — | 08 Aug 2022 | CEO Mr. Jamal Khan | Open |
| Paystack Payments Kenya Limited | Paystack | 08 Nov 2022 | CEO Caroline Hane-Weijman | Open |
| Wakandi Kenya Limited Scope: CBK license scope is limited to SACCOs and Informal Financial Groups only, not general merchants. | — | 25 Nov 2022 | Country Manager Mr. Kavit Bhakoo | Open |
| DLocal Payments Kenya Limited | dLocal | 01 Feb 2023 | Country Manager Mr. Ferdinard Wambua | Open |
| Pesaflow Limited | — | 16 Mar 2023 | CEO Mr. Larry Ochieng Agoro | Open |
| Unlimit Kenya Limited | — | 06 Apr 2023 | Director Mr. Trevor Goott | Open |
| Gladys Technologies Limited | — | 24 Apr 2023 | CEO Mr. David Maduri | Open |
| Dolcepay Kenya Limited | — | 06 Apr 2023 | CEO Mr. Abraham Mbuthia Bundi | Open |
| Mamlaka Hub and Spoke Limited | — | 29 May 2023 | CEO Ms. Njoki Muthuuri | Open |
| Eclectics International Limited | — | 09 Jun 2023 | Managing Director Mr. Paul Mbugua | Open |
| Sky World Limited | — | 21 Jul 2023 | CEO Mr. Moses Magero | Open |
| Data Integrated Limited | — | 13 Sept 2023 | Managing Director Mary Mwangi | Open |
| Tanda Agent Limited | Tanda | 13 Sept 2023 | Acting CEO Catherine Karimi Gichunge | Open |
| Kasapay Limited | — | 12 Sept 2024 | Managing Director Benard Mwangi Njuru | Open |
| Fingo Payments Services Limited | Fingo Pay | 16 Aug 2024 | CEO Mr. Kiiru Muhoya | Open |
| Tangazoletu Limited | — | 16 Aug 2024 | CEO Mr. Chris Gathingu | Open |
| Zamupay Limited | — | 23 Dec 2024 | CEO Mr. Benson Muteru | Open |
| Tendepay Limited | — | 20 Jan 2025 | CEO Mr. Abel Masai Jevayi | Open |
| Quidexplus Kenya Limited | pawaPay | 17 Jun 2026 | CEO Mr. David Geita Kanyora | Open |
Payment infrastructure operator
Runs shared payment rails, switching and interbank settlement. These are the wholesale plumbing PSPs banks and fintechs plug into.
| Legal name | Trading name | Licensed since | Chief executive | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interswitch East Africa (Kenya) Limited | Interswitch | 01 Jan 2019 | Country Manager Mr. Bernard Kinara | Open |
| Kenswitch Limited | — | 01 Jan 2019 | CEO Mr. John Mukono Ngethe | Open |
| Integrated Payment Services Limited | PesaLink | 01 Jan 2020 | CEO Mr. Gituku Kirika | Open |
Special-scope PSP
Authorised for a narrow, purpose-specific payments scope (e.g. parking pre-paid cards, or SWIFT payment processing for banks only).
| Legal name | Trading name | Licensed since | Chief executive | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya Airports Parking Services (KAPS) Limited Scope: CBK license scope is limited to parking pre-paid cards and mobile money. | KAPS | 06 May 2022 | Managing Director Mr. Bonnyventure Ngala Saronge | Open |
| Kenya Commerce Exchange Service Bureau (KENEX) Scope: CBK license scope is limited to SWIFT payment processing for banks only. | KENEX | 16 Mar 2023 | Managing Director Mr. Prakasam Vasu | Open |
How to verify a PSP is CBK-authorized
- Look them up on this page. Every entry is copied from the CBK PDF. We update within a week of any new directory publication.
- Cross-check against CBK directly. Download the source PDF at centralbank.go.ke. If we say a PSP is authorised and CBK does not, CBK wins, tell us at /report.
- If the brand is not on either list they may be riding on a licensed PSP (ask which), they may be a bank (see the CBK banks list), they may be a Digital Credit Provider (loan app, use /tools/cbk-licence-checker), or they may be operating illegally.
FAQ
How many CBK-authorized Payment Service Providers are there in Kenya?
43, as at 17 June 2026 (published in the CBK Directory of Authorized PSPs on 7 August 2026). The split: 9 full mobile money, 7 processing, 22 merchant gateways, 3 infrastructure, 2 special scope. Full list on this page.
Is M-PESA CBK licensed?
Yes. Safaricom PLC is authorised by CBK as a full mobile money PSP, licensed since 1 January 2016. See the Safaricom entry at /cbk-licensed-psps/safaricom.
Is Airtel Money CBK licensed?
Yes. Airtel Money Kenya Limited is authorised as a full mobile money PSP, first licensed 21 January 2022. Entry: /cbk-licensed-psps/airtel-money.
Is Tala, Branch or a loan app CBK licensed?
Not as a PSP. Loan apps in Kenya are regulated under the CBK Digital Credit Providers (DCP) Regulations 2022, a separate licensing regime. See /tools/cbk-licence-checker for the DCP check and /guides/best-loan-apps-kenya-2026 for the licensed list.
What is the difference between a PSP and a bank?
A bank is licensed under the Banking Act to take deposits and lend. A PSP is licensed under the National Payment System Act to move money, issue e-money or run a merchant platform. PSPs do not offer bank accounts and are not covered by the Kenya Deposit Insurance scheme.
Who is the newest CBK-licensed PSP?
Whizmo Limited is the newest full mobile money PSP (licensed 15 May 2026). Quidexplus Kenya (trading as pawaPay) is the newest merchant gateway (licensed 17 June 2026, the snapshot date of the current CBK directory).
Who is the oldest CBK-licensed PSP?
Among current PSP Act licensees, Safaricom PLC is the oldest, first licensed on 1 January 2016 (M-PESA was in operation earlier under prior regulatory arrangements). Interswitch and Kenswitch have been licensed as payment infrastructure operators since 1 January 2019.
How often does CBK update the directory?
CBK does not publish on a fixed schedule. The current directory is dated September 2026 and reflects licensing as at 17 June 2026. paybillke checks CBK's page monthly and refreshes within one week of any new directory.
What is the difference between a mobile money issuer and a merchant gateway?
Issuers (Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom, SasaPay, Equitel and a handful more) can create e-money and hold customer wallets. Merchant gateways (DPO, Paystack, Pesapal, iPay and 18 more) only route payments between the issuers and the merchants who accept them.
What about Moja Expressway on the Nairobi Expressway?
Moja Expressway Company Ltd operates a toll collection system for the Nairobi Expressway. The toll points are purchased through licensed Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and banks, in the same way as payments to utility companies and providers of other services.
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