Kenya’s cheque system faces economic challenges

Kenya’s cheque issuance value has plateaued in recent years, currently standing at approximately 200 million shillings monthly. This contrasts with the significant volume of M-Pesa transactions, which are rapidly eclipsing cheque usage.

Payment Trends in Kenya

M-Pesa transactions, excluding those processed through the RTGS and Pesalink platforms, average 2,600 transactions per second. These transactions represent a monthly value of roughly 3 trillion shillings. This data suggests a gradual shift away from cheque payments.

Challenges with Cheque Payments

The current system of cheque payments involves logistical challenges and associated costs. These include the need to courier cheques from the payer’s location to the recipient, and the subsequent physical presentation of the cheque to the receiving bank, making the process inconvenient and expensive.