How to check Stripe's country list
Stripe publishes its own list of countries where businesses can open an account. That page is the only reliable source. Blog posts, forum threads and older guides, including this one, can go out of date as availability changes.
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Open Stripe's official global availability page
Go to Stripe's own website and find the page listing supported countries for businesses. Avoid relying on third-party summaries or screenshots.
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Look for the country where your business is registered
Check how the list treats the country of your legal entity. This can differ from where your customers are, so note both.
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Note the status and the date
Record exactly what the page shows, such as available, preview or not listed, and the date you checked. Save a screenshot for your records.
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Check payment methods for your customers
Even where an account is possible, confirm in Stripe's documentation which payment methods your Kenyan customers could use. If most of them pay with M-Pesa, this step matters as much as account availability.
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Recheck before you build
Availability lists change. Recheck the page before you commit development time, and again before launch.
Alternatives to Stripe in Kenya, by payment model
Rather than comparing brand names, it helps to compare models. Each model handles accounts, payment methods and settlement differently. The table below lists common options and the questions to ask for each one.
| Model | How it works | What to check | Fit for M-Pesa customers |
|---|---|---|---|
| International card platform (for example Stripe, where available) | You open an account with a global provider and accept payments through its API or checkout. | Official country list for your legal entity, supported methods, settlement currency. | Check the provider's documentation for M-Pesa support. |
| Local payment service provider or aggregator | A provider operating in Kenya connects you to one or more local payment methods. | Methods offered, onboarding requirements, pricing, settlement process. | Varies by provider; ask directly. |
| Direct Safaricom Daraja integration | You integrate with Safaricom's Daraja APIs yourself, using your own PayBill or Till. | Developer time, ongoing maintenance, handling of transaction status and reconciliation. | Direct M-Pesa access, with the integration work on your side. |
| M-Pesa payment gateway (Payment Gateway Kenya) | One gateway for M-Pesa pay-ins, plus payouts where confirmed for the account, connected via API (H2H) or Hosted Payment Page. | Pricing is custom (talk to sales). M-Pesa is the only method in Kenya. | Built for M-Pesa pay-ins. |
| Bank merchant services | Your bank provides payment acceptance linked to your business account. | Methods covered, contract terms, integration options for your website. | Ask your bank which methods are included. |
| E-commerce platform built-in payments | Your store platform offers its own payment product. | Whether Kenya is on the platform's official country list. Kenya was not on Shopify's official Shopify Payments country list when checked on 5 November 2026. | Depends on the platform; often handled through a separate gateway. |
For a wider view of providers, read our guide to payment service providers in Kenya. If you are weighing a direct integration against a gateway, see Daraja vs a payment gateway.
Where M-Pesa fits in your payment setup
If your customers mainly pay with M-Pesa, the Stripe question may matter less than how you accept mobile money. Payment Gateway Kenya is a payment gateway for M-Pesa pay-ins, plus payouts where confirmed for the account. In Kenya, M-Pesa is the only method we offer.
You can connect in two ways: API (H2H) or a Hosted Payment Page. These are two routes into the same gateway, not separate products. The H2H route is not white-label. See the M-Pesa gateway page for details, or go back to the Payment Gateway Kenya homepage.
Pay-in
Your customer pays your business with M-Pesa, for example at checkout on your website.
Payout
Your business pays a customer, such as a refund or withdrawal. Available where confirmed for your account.
Merchant settlement
Funds are sent to you, the merchant. Merchant settlements are sent on the same day (T+0).
Illustrative flow: the steps below show a typical M-Pesa pay-in at a high level. Exact screens and timings depend on your integration.
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Customer chooses M-Pesa
At checkout, the customer selects M-Pesa on the Hosted Payment Page or on your own checkout connected via API.
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Payment request is started
A payment request is sent and the customer confirms it on their phone with their M-Pesa PIN.
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Postback sends the status
A postback sends the transaction status to your system. Postbacks go to you, the merchant. They are not a customer notification service.
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You update the order
Your system marks the order as paid or failed and sends any customer messages you choose to send.
Our overall transaction success rate is 85%, measured as successful transactions divided by all transactions. This is a product-wide figure, not a guarantee for any single merchant. Pricing is custom, so talk to sales for a quote.
Payments in Kenya sit within the regulatory context of the Central Bank of Kenya and the National Payment System Act 2011. If you have questions about how this applies to your business, ask our team.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions Kenyan merchants ask most often when comparing Stripe and its alternatives.
Is Stripe available in Kenya?
Check Stripe's official global availability page for the current answer, as country lists change. Look at the status for the country where your business is registered and record the date you checked. We do not state Stripe's current status for Kenya.
What are the main alternatives to Stripe in Kenya?
Common models include local payment service providers, a direct Safaricom Daraja integration, an M-Pesa payment gateway such as Payment Gateway Kenya, bank merchant services and e-commerce platform payments. Compare them on supported methods, integration effort, pricing and settlement.
Which payment methods does Payment Gateway Kenya support in Kenya?
In Kenya, Payment Gateway Kenya supports M-Pesa only. The gateway covers M-Pesa pay-ins, plus payouts where confirmed for your account. For anything else, ask our team.
Can I use Shopify Payments in Kenya?
Kenya was not on Shopify's official Shopify Payments country list when checked on 5 November 2026. Check Shopify's official list for the latest position before you plan your store's payments.
How do I connect to Payment Gateway Kenya?
You can connect via API (H2H) or a Hosted Payment Page. These are two routes into the same gateway, not separate products, and the H2H route is not white-label. Postbacks send the transaction status to your system.
When are merchant settlements sent?
Merchant settlements are sent on the same day (T+0). This describes when settlement is sent, not when funds are credited to your account.
What is Payment Gateway Kenya's transaction success rate?
Our overall transaction success rate is 85%, measured as successful transactions divided by all transactions. It is a product-wide figure and is not guaranteed for any individual merchant.
How much does Payment Gateway Kenya cost?
Pricing is custom, so talk to sales for a quote. Existing merchants can add supported payment methods at no extra connection fee, and the number of enabled methods does not change the connection price.