Safaricom creates swift link with PayPal to bring international payments to mobile wallet holders

July 29, 2025 in U by Editor

M-PESA transaction volumes average more than USD 1.1bn daily

 

In a major stride toward financial interoperability and global inclusion, Safaricom has partnered with global payment giant PayPal to enable seamless transfers between M-PESA wallets and PayPal accounts. The new integration gives more than 35 million M-PESA customers and two million businesses in Kenya the ability to send and receive funds internationally with greater ease.

The service, which is currently available in Kenya, allows users to link their PayPal and M-PESA accounts, providing a two-way transfer capability that effectively opens the door for mobile wallet users to participate in global digital commerce. The partners have indicated plans to expand the service to other M-PESA markets across Africa.

“This collaboration empowers millions of Kenyan consumers, small businesses and micro-entrepreneurs to engage with the global digital economy,” said Esther Waititu, Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom. “It reflects our ongoing mission to transform lives through convenient, secure and inclusive digital financial solutions.”

PayPal’s Regional Head for the Middle East and Africa, Otto Williams, said the partnership reflects a shared goal of improving access to digital financial infrastructure: “Building seamless connections between the global economy and local financial ecosystems is essential. With this integration, we are making cross-border transactions more accessible and less burdensome for millions of Africans.”

The partnership arrives at a time when Africa’s digital economy is rapidly expanding. Kenya’s vibrant gig economy, driven by freelancers and small-scale exporters, has faced barriers in receiving international payments. This solution addresses that gap, enabling faster and lower-cost remittances and payments for digital work, e-commerce, and services.

It also reflects a broader trend toward interoperability between fintech platforms, as mobile money providers and global payment systems look to integrate services that match evolving user expectations in convenience, speed, and cost.

Launched in 2007, M-PESA has more than 50 million users across Africa with daily transaction volumes exceeding $1.1 billion. The platform’s evolution—from basic peer-to-peer transfers to savings, credit, and now international payments—has made it a critical tool for financial inclusion.

For PayPal, which operates in over 200 markets and supports more than 400 million active accounts globally, the partnership opens a new pathway to reach Africa’s dynamic and underbanked populations through one of the continent’s most trusted mobile platforms.