Kenswitch, a Kenya-based shared payments switch connecting more than 30 financial institutions, has announced a framework agreement with Visa to develop new payment products and improve clearing and settlement infrastructure within Kenya.
The partnership combines Kenswitch's domestic network, spanning ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and agent banking outlets, with Visa's global payments technology, including fraud prevention, data analytics, and digital acceptance tools.
The agreement is directed at banks, fintechs, and merchants, with the stated aim of deepening and modernising Kenya's payment ecosystem through co-developed solutions and advanced processing infrastructure.
National switch competition and regulatory context
The announcement lands at a pivotal moment in Kenya's payments landscape. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is advancing plans for a fast payment system and national switch designed to enable real-time, interoperable money movement across banks and mobile wallets, lowering transaction costs and improving cross-provider access for consumers.
The commercial value of that infrastructure has attracted significant competition. Kenya's banking sector has been positioning Pesalink, operated by Integrated Payment Services Limited, the fintech arm of the Kenya Bankers Association, as a candidate backbone for the new real-time network. In March 2025, Nigeria's inter-bank settlement system, NIBSS, partnered with local firm Ceva to pitch for involvement in Kenya's new payment infrastructure, signalling the international interest in the project.
Kenswitch, established in 2002 as part of Kenya's payments modernisation efforts, is using the Visa partnership to position itself as a contender in the CBK's procurement of a new payments system. By aligning its existing local network with international technology and compliance capabilities, the company aims to meet the regulator's stated priorities of interoperability and domestic processing control.
Commenting on the news, John Mukono, CEO of Kenswitch, said the collaboration enables the co-creation of value-added solutions and settlement infrastructure, benefiting banks, fintechs, merchants, and everyday Kenyans. Chad Pollock, Visa's Vice President and General Manager for East Africa, said the partnership combines global innovation capabilities with domestic infrastructure to support safer and more efficient payment experiences across Kenya.
