Kenya's non-bank payment and remittance licences
Kenya's payments market is anchored by mobile money, but a broad ecosystem of gateways, switches, wallets and remittance companies sits around it. Two Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) directories cover these firms. The Directory of Authorized Payment Service Providers (as at August 10, 2026) lists 44 PSPs authorised under the National Payment System Act and Regulations, and the Directory of Licenced Money Remittance Providers (as at September 30, 2026) lists 37 MRPs licensed under the Money Remittance Regulations.
What each licence allows
| Licence | Typical services |
|---|---|
| Payment service provider – e-money issuer | Issuing, storing and transferring mobile money or e-money (wallets) |
| Payment service provider – processing | Payment gateways, aggregation and merchant acquiring on behalf of merchants |
| Payment service provider – payment system operator | Owning and operating switches and payment systems |
| Money remittance provider | Cross-border money transfer to and from Kenya, often serving diaspora corridors |
The PSP directory describes each firm's approved services, contact details and date first licensed; the MRP directory gives location, contact details and licensing date. Many remittance providers are based in Nairobi's Eastleigh and serve Somali and wider East African corridors, while PSPs include telcos, banks' fintech subsidiaries, regional gateways and international payment companies.
Who uses this list
- International PSPs and remittance companies seeking licensed local partners for collections and payouts
- Merchants, marketplaces and SaaS platforms choosing payment gateways
- Fraud, KYC and AML vendors selling into regulated payments firms
- Banks and investors screening counterparties