The verdict in three sentences
In Kenya, M-Pesa dominates with over 95% of mobile payments, charging 0.5% to 1.5% on Till/Paybill, while Airtel Money sits near a flat 1%. For a Nairobi merchant, activating the rail your customers already top up matters more than chasing the cheapest fraction of a point. The 2026 decision: M-Pesa as the primary rail, Airtel Money as a cost hedge on the tiers where it undercuts.
Kenya fees in 2026
Headline rates depend on the negotiated Till/Paybill tier and volume. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude for a verified merchant account, in Kenyan shillings (KES).
| Criterion | M-Pesa (Till/Paybill) | Airtel Money |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant fee | 0.5% to 1.5% | 1% |
| Daily limit | 250,000 KES | 250,000 KES |
| Per-transaction limit | 150,000 KES | 150,000 KES |
| Settlement | T+1 (Till), instant (Paybill) | T+1 |
| API availability | Yes (Daraja) | Yes (partners) |
| Refund | Free | Free |
M-Pesa wins on reach and its instant Paybill settlement; Airtel Money stays attractive on the tiers where its flat 1% beats M-Pesa's upper band.
Côte d'Ivoire fees in 2026 (regional reference)
For a regional contrast, Côte d'Ivoire shows a more fragmented market split across four operators. Rates are in West African CFA francs (FCFA).
| Criterion | MTN MoMo | Moov Money |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant fee | 1.5% | 1% to 1.8% |
| Minimum fixed fee | 100 FCFA | 50 to 100 FCFA |
| Daily limit | 1,500,000 FCFA | 1,500,000 FCFA |
| Settlement | T+1 | T+2 to T+3 |
| API availability | Yes (Collections) | Yes (partners) |
Where Kenya often needs a single rail, Abidjan needs two: no operator captures a Kenya-style 95% share, so merchants must accept both MTN and Moov.
Mini case study
Ibrahim, who runs a restaurant in Nairobi, collects KES 800,000 per month across 400 tickets of KES 2,000. On M-Pesa at 1.2%, his fees reach about KES 9,600. By routing 30% of tickets to Airtel Money at a flat 1%, his blended cost falls to about KES 9,000, saving roughly KES 600 per month and KES 7,200 a year — small, but it funds his monthly SMS marketing.
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FAQ
Which rail should a Nairobi merchant activate first?
M-Pesa, without question — it clears over 95% of mobile payments. Airtel Money is a secondary hedge for the fee tiers where its flat 1% beats M-Pesa's higher band.
Is Airtel Money cheaper than M-Pesa?
Sometimes: its flat 1% undercuts M-Pesa's upper 1.5% band, but M-Pesa's negotiated Till rates can drop to 0.5%, so it depends on your volume tier.
What are the 2026 limits?
Both cap around 250,000 KES per day and 150,000 KES per transaction for verified merchants. High volume requires a limit uplift from the operator.
How fast is settlement?
M-Pesa Paybill can be near-instant, Till is T+1, and Airtel Money is T+1. For tight cash flow, Paybill's instant availability is the strongest option.
Can I centralise both in one checkout?
Yes. A unified module shows M-Pesa and Airtel Money side by side, letting the customer pick their wallet — the surest way to maximise conversion in Kenya.
Let's talk about your project. We integrate M-Pesa and Airtel Money at your checkout with one unified dashboard. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.