Online sellers in Kenya usually combine a Kenyan shilling business account at an established bank with a payment gateway that collects M-Pesa and card payments and settles to that account. Pesapal, Flutterwave, and DPO Pay are common gateways, and M-Pesa is the dominant local payment method. Shilling transactions settle in shillings. Figures here are as of 21 October 2025.
Suits Ecommerce best
Depends on your store; an established bank shilling account, with Pesapal, Flutterwave, or DPO Pay to collect M-Pesa and card payments.
Typical monthly fee
No fixed monthly fee on the account is common; gateways charge per transaction, often around 2.5 to 3.5 percent on top of the underlying cost. Verify current pricing.
Non resident position
A registered business, a company KRA PIN, and a settlement bank account are required to use the main gateways. Foreign owned sellers face enhanced checks. Verify with the provider.
Providers that fit
Three covered here
Fees and features as of 21 October 2025Last reviewed 21 October 2025
General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current terms and eligibility with the provider before applying.
Ecommerce businesses in Kenya usually pair a Kenyan shilling business account at an established bank with a payment gateway such as Pesapal, Flutterwave, or DPO Pay that collects M-Pesa and card payments and settles to the account. Shilling transactions settle in shillings. Compare the per transaction fees and settlement timing. Information as of 21 October 2025, not advice.
What Ecommerce in Kenya need from a business account
Online sellers need to collect M-Pesa and card payments, settle reliably to a business account, handle refunds and reconciliation, and report for tax. The usual setup in Kenya is a shilling business account at an established bank plus a payment gateway such as Pesapal, Flutterwave, or DPO Pay that collects payments and settles to the account, typically within a few business days. Shilling card and mobile money transactions settle in shillings.
P
Pesapal
A widely used Kenyan payment gateway that collects M-Pesa, card, and other local payments and settles to a Kenyan bank account, with per transaction pricing rather than a monthly charge.
Best for
Stores wanting one integration for M-Pesa and cards
Monthly fee
Per transaction pricing, often around 2.5 to 3.5 percent; verify current pricing
A pan African payment gateway operating in Kenya that collects M-Pesa and card payments and settles to a business account, with per transaction pricing and broad developer tools.
A payment gateway used across East Africa that collects M-Pesa and card payments with multi currency settlement, suited to sellers serving regional or travel markets.
The international business account providers we compare do not confirm an account for companies registered in Kenya as of 21 October 2025. The providers listed above serve this market: established Kenyan banks such as Equity Bank, KCB, Co-operative Bank of Kenya, and NCBA for the settlement account, alongside payment gateways such as Pesapal, Flutterwave, and DPO Pay that collect M-Pesa and card payments where they fit this business type. Confirm current terms with each provider before applying.
Questions about banking for Ecommerce in Kenya
What account does an ecommerce business in Kenya need?
Online sellers usually pair a Kenyan shilling business account at an established bank with a payment gateway such as Pesapal, Flutterwave, or DPO Pay that collects M-Pesa and card payments and settles to the account. As of 21 October 2025, not advice.
How do online sellers get paid in Kenya?
A payment gateway such as Pesapal, Flutterwave, or DPO Pay collects M-Pesa and card payments from customers and settles the funds to the seller business account, typically within a few business days. As of 21 October 2025, confirm settlement timing and fees with the provider.
Can an online store in Kenya receive foreign currency?
Some sellers add a foreign currency account or a multi currency gateway for overseas sales, though for local M-Pesa and card payments settlement is in shillings. Funding rules and charges vary. As of 21 October 2025, confirm the current position with the provider.
What does an online seller pay in fees in Kenya?
Gateways such as Pesapal, Flutterwave, and DPO Pay charge a per transaction fee, often around 2.5 to 3.5 percent on top of the underlying cost, rather than a fixed monthly fee, and bank accounts apply maintenance and transaction charges. As of 21 October 2025, confirm current pricing with each provider.
Fees, features, and eligibility change and vary by region. This page was last reviewed on 21 October 2025. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.