PawaPay Gets Kenya Payment Service Provider Approval

In Short

PawaPay says Quidexplus Kenya Limited, a group company, has been authorised by the Central Bank of Kenya as a Payment Service Provider.

What Happened

PawaPay announced on September 16, 2026 that Quidexplus Kenya Limited has received authorisation from the Central Bank of Kenya to provide payment gateway services.

A payment gateway is the “checkout pipe” that helps a merchant receive a payment, confirm it, and then settle it, meaning move the funds to the merchant after processing.

PawaPay said the approval allows Quidexplus Kenya Limited to receive, process, and settle payments on behalf of merchants in Kenya. The company framed this as part of its long-term investment in regulated payments infrastructure.

PawaPay also positions itself as a single access point for mobile money across multiple African markets. Mobile money is digital value stored in a wallet linked to a phone number, like M-PESA, and it is widely used for everyday payments in Kenya.

Why It Matters

Kenya is one of Africa’s most mature mobile money markets, so regulatory approval is a key step for payment companies that want to serve merchants at scale.

For businesses operating in multiple countries, dealing with different payment rails, compliance rules, and settlement processes can slow expansion. PawaPay says its model, one API and one contract, aims to reduce that complexity by handling local connections and regulatory requirements.

The move also signals that more pan-African payment providers are prioritising local licensing and on-the-ground regulatory presence. That can improve reliability for merchants, especially around settlement timelines and compliance expectations.