Adding payments to a website is one of the fastest ways to turn visitors into customers. The trick is offering the methods your customers already use, without adding ones nobody needs.

M-Pesa

For customers in Kenya, M-Pesa is usually the first choice. Integration through Safaricom’s Daraja API lets customers approve payment with an STK push on their phone, and your site confirms the payment automatically. It needs a business till or paybill and some setup time, so plan for it early.

PayPal

PayPal suits international clients and diaspora customers, and it’s quick to set up. Note that PayPal doesn’t process payments in Kenyan Shillings, so prices are converted into a supported currency such as US dollars at checkout. Show the KES price clearly and state the converted amount so customers aren’t surprised.

Card payments

Local payment gateways let customers pay by Visa or Mastercard, often alongside M-Pesa in one checkout. Compare transaction fees, settlement times and how quickly they resolve disputes.

A practical starting point

• Mostly local customers: M-Pesa first, card second
• Mostly international: PayPal or card
• A mix: M-Pesa plus PayPal covers most people

Whatever you choose, test the full journey on a phone, including what happens when a payment fails.

We set up M-Pesa and PayPal checkouts for clients — ask us what fits your business.