Kenya: Following the success of mobile money, the country targets payment sovereignty

Kenya, a global pioneer in mobile payments with M-Pesa, is beginning a strategic reflection on its financial infrastructure. According to TechCabal, the country had more than 94 million mobile money accounts in July 2026. While this success has revolutionized financial inclusion, the launch of a domestic card system by Kenswitch marks a desire to move beyond this sole reliance on mobile wallets to further secure the national economy.

Dependence on international networks for card transactions raises questions of sovereignty. In July 2026, Kenya recorded 13.76 million payment cards, including 11.16 million debit cards, according to the Central Bank of Kenya. Despite a monthly volume of 6.2 million transactions via payment terminals, a large part of the technical infrastructure remains in the hands of foreign operators, limiting local room for maneuver.

Other economies have already taken this step. India, with its RuPay network and UPI interface, has successfully created a robust domestic architecture where banks and fintechs interact freely. Similarly, Saudi Arabia, thanks to its Mada system, saw its electronic payments reach 85% of retail transactions in 2025. These examples demonstrate that the development of national infrastructure can stimulate local innovation without isolating itself from the global financial system.

For Kenya, the challenge is not to replace international networks, but to offer alternatives better suited to local realities. A domestic system would help reduce transaction costs, foster innovation in contactless or virtual payments, and strengthen the resilience of the national system. The success of this initiative will, however, depend on Kenswitch's ability to guarantee reliability and large-scale commercial acceptance.

Our perspective

The quest for digital sovereignty is an essential condition for African development. By investing in its own payment rails, Kenya affirms its capacity to define the rules of its economy. This approach reinforces the dignity of African citizens, who are now actors in their own financial infrastructure, and prepares the continent for a more balanced economic integration that is less dependent on external models.