Kenya Spearheads Digital Travel Payments in Africa
Kenya is solidifying its position as a leader in digital travel payments within Africa, driven by innovative strategies and strong public-private partnerships. The recent Kenya Travel Industry Payment Summit (KTRIPS 2025) in Nairobi underscored the nation’s commitment to transforming the travel payment ecosystem, focusing on enhanced security, efficiency, and accessibility for all stakeholders.
A key message from the summit was the vital role of collaboration between the public and private sectors. Juanita Omanga, Deputy Director of the Digital Payment Services Division at the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), stressed that such partnerships are crucial for promoting innovation, protecting consumers, and improving service delivery across the travel payment landscape. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that technological advancements benefit major airlines, smaller travel agencies, and individual travelers alike.
Kenya’s success in digital payments is evident in its thriving mobile money services, which have broadened financial inclusion and simplified transactions nationwide. The summit highlighted how innovations like QR payments, buy-now-pay-later options, and real-time cross-border payments are reshaping the travel experience. These advancements align with the CBK’s proactive approach to fostering a secure, efficient, and inclusive payment ecosystem.
Industry leaders echoed the importance of digital transformation. Nicanor Sabula, CEO of the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA), emphasized that modern payment systems are essential for enhancing customer experiences, driving business growth, and ensuring security in an increasingly digital world. KATA Chairperson Joseph Kithitu reinforced this view, stating that digital adaptation is critical for Kenya’s travel industry to maintain its competitive edge.
Kenya’s growing influence in the African travel market is supported by impressive statistics. In 2024, the country accounted for \$566.8 million in air travel sales, representing 2.67% of the total Middle East and Africa market. This figure reflects a 2.11% year-over-year growth, demonstrating the positive impact of digital payment solutions.
The summit also addressed the challenges inherent in the digital payment space, including digital fraud, phishing scams, and cross-border payment delays. John Njoroge, Country Manager for Visa Kenya, emphasized the need for payment solutions to adhere to the highest standards of data protection and privacy, especially as transaction volumes increase and regulations evolve.
KTRIPS 2025 served as a platform for key stakeholders from the travel industry, fintech sector, and regulatory bodies to discuss and explore solutions. The summit’s focus on emerging trends, fraud prevention, regulatory compliance, and technologies like Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) reflects Kenya’s forward-thinking approach to shaping the future of travel payments.
KATA, as the national umbrella body for travel agents in Kenya, plays a crucial role in advocating for industry best practices, policy reforms, and digital transformation. The organization’s commitment to enhancing the travel experience for all stakeholders aligns with Kenya’s broader vision of becoming a leading digital hub in Africa.
Kenya’s proactive approach to digital travel payments, combined with its strong public-private partnerships and focus on innovation, positions the country as a model for other African nations seeking to modernize their tourism sectors. By embracing these advancements, Kenya is not only enhancing its own travel industry but also contributing to the broader digital transformation of the African continent.
