Kenya proposes up to $1.93m capital requirement for payment firms

Kenya is proposing new capital requirements of up to KES 250 million ($1.93 million) for payment companies, raising the cost of entry for fintechs seeking to compete in the country’s payments market. Under the National Payment System Bill, 2026 , the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is establishing mandatory minimum capital thresholds ranging from KES 5 million ($38,610) for basic data services to KES 250 million ($1.93 million) for electronic money issuers. Existing payment providers will have one y