Two decades of building trust in Kenya's payments
From a single shared switch to a nationwide ecosystem — this is the story of how Kenswitch became the backbone of Kenya's interbank infrastructure.
Milestones that shaped a nation's payments
Kenswitch Founded by the Loita Group
Established as Kenya's first shared financial switch enabling every ATM card issued by member banks to be used at any member bank's ATM.
First Interbank ATM Network Goes Live
Kenswitch processes its first live interbank transactions, connecting major commercial banks.
SACCO & Microfinance Integration
Expansion to SACCOs and microfinance institutions extending formal financial services to millions of Kenyans.
POS Acquiring Network Launched
Roll-out of point-of-sale merchant acquiring capabilities across Kenya.
Visa Partnership & International Card Processing
Strategic partnership with Visa to enable international card processing.
Agency Banking Rollout
Launch of agency banking services, extending financial services into rural and semi-urban areas.
KORS & KIMT Platforms Introduced
Launch of KORS for dispute resolution and KIMT for intelligent monitoring.
10 Million+ Cardholders & Kencard Launch
Kenswitch surpasses 10 million active cardholders; Kencard enters review.
The story behind the first ATM card
In 2002, a young professional named Julius walked into his bank branch and was handed something new — a card that could withdraw cash from any ATM in the Kenswitch network. It was Kenya's first taste of true interbank connectivity.
That moment — simple, but profound — is why Kenswitch exists. The promise that your money is accessible, wherever you are, whenever you need it.
Mary's seamless payment moment
Two decades later, Mary pays for her groceries, her school fees, and her savings — all through accounts connected by Kenswitch's infrastructure. She doesn't think about the network underneath. She doesn't need to.
That invisibility is intentional. The best infrastructure is the kind you never notice — because it simply always works.
The numbers behind the network
Network Footprint
Services & Reach
Interbank switching, card issuing, POS acquiring, agency banking, mobile payments, dispute resolution (KORS), intelligent monitoring (KIMT), Visa processing