Kenya’s Pesalink Connects to PAPSS Network to Cut Cost and Time of African Payments

Pesalink, Kenya’s leading instant payment network, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to simplify cross-border transactions and strengthen financial integration across the continent.

Through the collaboration, PAPSS participants will be able to send instant cross-border payments directly into banks and mobile money providers connected to the Pesalink network in Kenya. Transactions will be processed 24/7 and settled in local currencies, reducing dependence on correspondent banking systems and foreign reserve currencies.

PAPSS, developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, facilitates seamless payments between African countries. Under the agreement, Pesalink will serve as a Technical Connectivity Provider, linking more than 80 Kenyan banks, fintechs, SACCOs, and telecommunications operators on its network with over 160 commercial banks and fintech institutions participating in PAPSS across Africa.

Cross-border payments within Africa have traditionally remained costly and slow. According to the World Bank’s 2023 Remittance Prices report, sending money across African borders costs an average of 7–8% of the transaction value, while settlement times can range from three to seven business days.

The Pesalink–PAPSS integration aims to lower transaction costs, accelerate settlement times, and improve payment efficiency for individuals, small businesses, and enterprises engaged in regional trade.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Nairobi, PAPSS CEO Mike Ogbalu III emphasized that partnerships with national payment switches are critical to expanding the system’s reach across Africa. He noted that Pesalink is the first switch piloted for transaction termination in Kenya, helping open additional channels for seamless local-currency payments across borders.

Pesalink CEO Gituku Kirika added that the partnership will enable Kenyan banks to provide faster and more affordable international payment services, supporting businesses and customers seeking to expand trade within an increasingly integrated African digital economy.