Airtel and Telkom users can now be able to pay for goods and services through Lipa Na M-PESA after the launch of a seamless money transfer through merchants attached to different operators last week
However, the service will exclusively be applicable to Lipa Na M-PESA Buy Goods and excludes PayBills.
This is just but the first phase towards complete Merchant Interoperability, which seeks to enable customers from the three mobile money service platforms: T-kash, M-PESA, and Airtel Money make direct mobile money payments to any merchant till number, across all networks, boosting the adoption and convenience of making cashless payments.
The proposition is also in line with the principles of the National Payments Strategy, 2022 – 2025, which was launched by the Central Bank of Kenya in February which include trust, security, usefulness, choice, and innovation.
“The introduction of merchant interoperability brings us closer to realising a cashless economy, further enhancing a seamless digital transactions ecosystem that gives the consumer more choice,” said Telkom Kenya’s CEO, Mugo Kibati.
Airtel Kenya CEO, Prasanta Das SARMA says: “I am delighted to see Kenya take this big step to enable customers to make payments to mobile money merchants, irrespective of their mobile money provider. Our customers will also experience a dynamic, secure, convenient, and more affordable digital payment ecosystem for personal and business payments.”
“Safaricom is delighted to partner with other industry players on this exciting innovation to empower mobile money customers in the country to make payments through Lipa Na M-PESA. This partnership builds on the successful rollout of mobile money interoperability making it possible for customers to send and receive money from any network in the country,” said Safaricom CEO, Peter Ndegwa.
