Kenyan businesses are set to benefit from faster and more efficient digital transactions following a new partnership between Pesalink and fintech company TendePay. The collaboration is designed to streamline enterprise payments, making it easier for companies to handle payroll, petty cash, supplier settlements, and customer collections. It comes at a time when the demand for seamless, real-time payment solutions in Kenya is accelerating.
A Push Toward Instant Enterprise Payments
Through this partnership, businesses can now make bulk or single payments of up to KES 999,999 (approximately $7,700) instantly across all banks. The move signals a significant shift for small and medium-sized enterprises, which have historically faced delays and inefficiencies when handling financial operations. With this integration, companies gain access to a Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)-regulated platform that automatically reconciles payments, an essential feature for organisations processing high transaction volumes daily.
Infrastructure Backed by Industry Leaders
Pesalink, operated by the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA), provides the core infrastructure connecting local banks, mobile money providers, and fintech firms. TendePay, which started as a cash management tool, has grown into a comprehensive spend management platform. Together, they are offering businesses a secure, reliable, and affordable way to manage every aspect of their payments ecosystem.
Regulatory and Market Context
The timing of the partnership coincides with the CBK’s ongoing efforts to launch a new fast payment system (FPS) that promises to make transfers cheaper and more interoperable. Announced in 2024, the initiative aims to modernise Kenya’s payment infrastructure, but timelines remain unclear. In the interim, private sector players like Pesalink and TendePay are stepping in to meet rising demand for efficient digital transactions.
Competing and Complementary Developments
Payment service providers, including Pesalink, M-PESA, and Airtel Money, have been scaling up infrastructure investments and pursuing partnerships to enhance integration across the ecosystem. Safaricom recently doubled the transaction limit on its Pesalink-powered mini app to KES 500,000 ($3,900), giving SMEs more room for high-value digital transfers. These market shifts illustrate a broader race among providers to serve enterprises seeking real-time and high-volume payment capabilities.
Industry Debate on Infrastructure Investment
While CBK is considering a fresh national payments system, sector players have argued for upgrading existing rails instead of building a new network from scratch. Estimates suggest that creating a separate infrastructure could cost as much as $200 million and take four years to implement. By enhancing current systems, private operators aim to deliver faster solutions without duplicating costs and resources.
The Pesalink-TendePay partnership marks a pivotal step in Kenya’s journey toward modernized enterprise payments. By combining trusted banking infrastructure with innovative fintech solutions, the two companies are equipping businesses with tools to manage payroll, supplier payouts, and customer transactions seamlessly. As regulatory reforms progress and industry players continue to innovate, Kenya’s digital payments landscape is poised for rapid growth and deeper integration.