Top Payment Gateways in Kenya: The Best Solutions for Businesses

Introduction

Kenya has one of the most advanced digital payment ecosystems in Africa. With the rise of mobile money and e-commerce, businesses need reliable payment gateways to process transactions efficiently. This article explores the top payment gateways in Kenya, highlighting their strengths, ideal use cases, and key features.

1. Elemipay (by Elemitech)

Website: www.elemipay.com

Ideal for: Gaming, gambling & betting, Forex trading, crypto companies, money remittance businesses, and high-risk industries.

Strengths:

• Supports multiple payment methods, including MPESA, Airtel Money, Online Banking, Visa, and Mastercard.

• Seamless API integration for businesses needing custom payment solutions.

• Weekly settlements to global bank accounts or USDT wallets.

• Competitive pricing ranging from 1.5% to 6% per collection depending on the country and transaction volume.

• Highly secure with PCI certification to prevent fraud.

• Offers white-label solutions for businesses needing a branded payment system.

2. MPESA Paybill & Till Number (Safaricom)

Website: www.safaricom.co.ke

Ideal for: Small and medium businesses, utility payments, government institutions, and retail merchants.

Strengths:

• Most widely used payment gateway in Kenya.

• Instant payments with real-time settlements.

• Easy to integrate with mobile applications and POS systems.

• Highly trusted and recognized by Kenyan consumers.

3. Pesapal

Website: www.pesapal.com

Ideal for: E-commerce businesses, hospitality, schools, and professional services.

Strengths:

• Supports MPESA, Airtel Money, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

• Easy integration with popular platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento.

• Offers a virtual POS system for physical businesses.

• Strong fraud prevention measures.

4. DPO Group

Website: www.dpo.group

Ideal for: Large enterprises, travel agencies, airlines, and hotels.

Strengths:

• Supports multiple payment methods, including mobile money, credit cards, and bank transfers.

• Multi-currency support, making it ideal for businesses with international customers.

• Advanced security features to protect transactions.

5. Flutterwave

Website: www.flutterwave.com

Ideal for: Startups, SMEs, and international businesses.

Strengths:

• Easy API integration for developers.

• Supports MPESA, Airtel Money, bank transfers, and card payments.

• Allows businesses to accept payments from different countries.

• Strong security and fraud detection mechanisms.

6. Paystack

Website: www.paystack.com

Ideal for: Online businesses, freelancers, and subscription-based services.

Strengths:

• Simple setup and easy integration.

• Supports MPESA, Airtel Money, bank transfers, and cards.

• Best for businesses needing automated recurring billing.

• Reliable fraud protection.

7. iPay Kenya

Website: www.ipayafrica.com

Ideal for: SMEs, retail shops, and service-based businesses.

Strengths:

• Supports multiple payment options, including MPESA, Airtel Money, Visa, Mastercard, and Bitcoin.

• Affordable transaction fees.

• Quick settlement times.

8. JamboPay

Website: www.jambopay.com

Ideal for: Government agencies, utility companies, and e-commerce stores.

Strengths:

• Trusted by the Kenyan government for revenue collection.

• Supports mobile money and card payments.

• Strong data encryption for secure transactions.

9. Chipper Cash

Website: www.chippercash.com

Ideal for: Peer-to-peer payments and cross-border transactions.

Strengths:

• No transaction fees for local transfers.

• Works across multiple African countries.

• Mobile-first approach for easy payments.

Comparison Table

Payment Gateway	Supported Payment Methods	Best For	Strengths
Elemipay	MPESA, Airtel Money, Visa, Mastercard, Online Banking	High-risk businesses, gaming, forex, crypto	Multi-country support, USDT settlements, API integration
MPESA Paybill	MPESA	Retail, utilities, government	Instant settlements, trusted by Kenyans
Pesapal	MPESA, Airtel Money, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX	E-commerce, hospitality, schools	Easy integrations, virtual POS
DPO Group	Mobile money, cards, bank transfers	Large businesses, travel, hospitality	Multi-currency support, strong security
Flutterwave	MPESA, Airtel Money, bank transfers, cards	Startups, SMEs, international sales	Multi-country transactions, fraud protection
Paystack	MPESA, Airtel Money, bank transfers, cards	Online businesses, freelancers	Recurring billing, easy setup
iPay Kenya	MPESA, Airtel Money, Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin	SMEs, retail	Low transaction fees, quick settlement
JamboPay	Mobile money, cards	Government, utilities, e-commerce	Secure, government-backed
Chipper Cash	Mobile money	Peer-to-peer, international transfers	No fees, cross-border support

Final Recommendations

• Best for high-risk businesses: Elemipay – Ideal for gaming, Forex, and crypto businesses.

• Best for everyday transactions: MPESA Paybill & Till Number – Most widely accepted.

• Best for e-commerce: Pesapal – Integrates well with online stores.

• Best for international payments: DPO Group & Flutterwave – Great for multi-currency transactions.

• Best for freelancers & small businesses: Paystack & iPay Kenya – Simple and affordable solutions.

Conclusion

Choosing the right payment gateway in Kenya depends on your business model, transaction volume, and customer preferences. Whether you need a gateway for e-commerce, high-risk industries, or mobile money transactions, there’s an option that fits your needs.

For businesses looking for a powerful, multi-country solution, Elemipay offers a robust payment system tailored to high-risk industries. Visit www.elemipay.com to learn more and integrate secure payments into your business today!