Nigeria-based payments processor Paystack, owned by Stripe, has launched a new payment method in Kenya, enabling online shoppers to pay for goods via real-time bank transfers using the Pesalink network. This integration allows merchants using Paystack’s checkout platform to offer customers the option to pay directly from their bank account.

Pesalink, a service managed by the Kenya Bankers Association, facilitates instant, low-cost transfers between accounts across more than 40 participating banks and financial institutions in the country. By incorporating this service, Paystack aims to provide an alternative to card payments and mobile money, such as M-Pesa, for e-commerce transactions. The company states the feature is designed to reduce payment failures and simplify the checkout process.

The expansion comes as Paystack continues to build its presence in key African markets following its acquisition by U.S. payments giant Stripe in 2020. The company, which originated in Nigeria, has been systematically extending its services into other African nations, with Kenya being a primary target. The East African country has one of the continent's most dynamic digital payments landscapes, dominated by Safaricom's M-Pesa but with growing competition from bank-led services and other fintech players.

Paystack's strategy often involves integrating local, widely-used payment rails into its unified application programming interface. In Nigeria, for instance, it connects to the NIBSS Instant Payment system, and in South Africa, it supports Paystack-enabled payments. The addition of Pesalink follows this pattern, aiming to meet Kenyan consumers and merchants on their preferred payment channels. Analysts suggest that offering bank transfers could appeal to a segment of users who prefer not to use mobile money wallets for larger online purchases or who seek the perceived security of a direct bank transaction.

The move underscores the ongoing evolution of Africa's fintech sector, where interoperability between different payment systems—mobile money, bank accounts, and cards—is increasingly seen as critical for boosting digital commerce and financial inclusion. While mobile money has achieved remarkable penetration in markets like Kenya, services that bridge the gap between traditional banking and digital platforms are gaining traction. Paystack's integration positions it to capture transaction volume from this convergence.

Paystack's launch in Kenya coincides with regulatory scrutiny elsewhere in African fintech. In a separate development, the Bank of Ghana revoked the electronic money issuer licence of Zeepay Ghana Limited on July 22, 2026, as part of what the central bank described as a periodic review of licence holders. The Ghanaian regulator stated that Zeepay failed to meet specific regulatory requirements, though details were not disclosed. This event highlights the varying regulatory environments across the continent, where payments firms must navigate distinct national rules while attempting to scale regionally.

For Paystack, the Kenyan market presents both significant opportunity and competition. The company will need to convince merchants of the value of adding another payment option to their checkouts, balancing ease of integration through its platform against the dominance of existing methods. The success of the Pesalink feature may depend on factors like transaction success rates, settlement times, and the fees passed on to merchants, which Paystack has not detailed in its announcement.