Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya have largely moved beyond the first stage of digital payment adoption, but a productivity gap remains.
According to Visa’s new survey for its Pay and Get Paid 2026 report, the vast majority of surveyed SMEs in Kenya actively accept and make digital payments, showing that digital commerce is now a key part of the country’s small business economy. However, many SMEs still manage the related financial and operational tasks separately, with only one in five currently using an integrated solution that connects payments with broader business management.
The report shows that financial admin and disconnected tools create friction for SMEs, with surveyed businesses citing challenges in tracking outstanding invoices (30%), keeping payroll records organized (27%), and preparing financial reports (26%). These pain points reflect a disconnect between payments and the operational tasks that follow, with some businesses juggling multiple systems to keep their business running.
The appetite for a more connected approach is clear. According to the report, 81% of surveyed SMEs find an all-in-one solution appealing, reflecting strong interest in tools that can bring payments and key business operations into one experience. However, adoption has yet to catch up: only 19% of surveyed Kenyan SMEs currently use an integrated payment and business platform.
The report points to several perception barriers that may be slowing adoption. Businesses cited that they were unaware such tools exist (20%), that their business may be too small to need an integrated platform (14%), or that they do not see enough benefit from using one (12%). These findings suggest that broader adoption will depend on helping SMEs better understand how integrated tools can be relevant, accessible, and scalable for businesses at different stages of growth.
At the same time, the experience of SMEs already using integrated solutions suggests a strong value case. The report found that Kenyan businesses using an integrated tool or platform report 85% satisfaction, with 81% reporting efficiency gains, including reductions in the time and effort required to manage their business.
Beyond efficiency, integrated platforms may also create new opportunities for financial institutions to deepen SME relationships by using richer payments and business-management data to better understand cash flow patterns, support risk assessment, and potentially enable more relevant lending solutions over time.
Anne Kinuthia-Otieno, Vice President and Head of East Africa said, “As digital transactions become part of everyday commerce, the value for SMEs increasingly lies in what those payments can enable after the transaction. For issuers, this points to a broader opportunity: integrated platforms can help build a more complete, data-informed view of SME needs, opening the door to more tailored support and, where appropriate, financing solutions that can help businesses manage working capital and grow. At Visa, we’re focused on helping financial institutions turn payment innovation into more connected, data-informed platforms that create value for their SME clients”.
