NAIROBI, Kenya, July 29 – Safaricom has partnered with global digital payments firm PayPal to enable M-PESA users to transfer funds directly between their wallets and PayPal accounts.
The integration, currently available in Kenya, will serve over 35 million M-PESA users and two million local businesses, easing access to international e-commerce, freelancing income, and cross-border remittances. Plans are underway to extend the service to other M-PESA markets across Africa.
Safaricom Chief Financial Services Officer Esther Waititu said the partnership will simplify global transactions for Kenyan users by linking local and international payment systems.
“Our partnership with PayPal is a step toward seamless and inclusive digital payments,” she said.
The move targets Kenya’s growing gig economy and digital entrepreneurship sector, where many rely on PayPal for international payments and M-PESA for domestic transactions.
Otto Williams, PayPal’s Regional Head for Middle East and Africa, said the partnership advances financial inclusion by bridging local financial ecosystems with the global economy.
M-PESA processes over $1.1 billion (Sh141.9 billion) daily, while PayPal has 400 million active users across 200 markets.
