Anyone who does e-commerce from Kenya or wishes to receive payments online from Kenya knows the pain and hassle of it all. In other countries, the process is pretty straightforward but this is not so here in Kenya. For example, Paypal is the most popular online processing service but it is no good in Kenya. Kenyans using paypal can only send money and not receive it. Is there a way to go round this?
This is a question that was placed before me by Titus in my previous article about accepting payments online. As I sought to answer him, I felt that the answer would be useful to everyone interested in making money in Kenya and hence this post. When deciding on how you want to receive money, the first consideration is deciding who you intend selling to. If you want to sell to people in foreign lands you will face different challenges to that of selling online but to Kenyans within Kenya.
Receiving Money Online From Kenyans In Kenya
Generally, if you want to sell within Kenya, your choices are limited since many Kenyans do not have credit cards and those who do are still reluctant to buy from a website.
That leaves ‘off-line’ payments. These can be cheque, postal order, bank transfer, MPESA, ZAP, etc. Of course the problem with this is a matter of trust. MPESA (and possibly ZAP) is the closest that Kenya comes to an ‘online’ payment system. However, it is still not truly an automated system since the payment has to be processed manually. Here’s how to use MPESA to accept online payments.
Additionally, you can use some of the methods that follow to receive payments via credit card.
Receiving Money Internationally
The problem here is just that Paypal doesn’t work in Kenya. So we need a replacement that is just as good, or better. So I went out looking for third party payment processors who: can work in Kenya; have a solid reputation; seem professional. This is what I came up with:
AlertPay – A friend recommended AlertPay to me and I checked them out (very smooth website) and even signed up for an account with them. They seem to work well and I’d recommend you to try them out. Guess what? You can also make money online with AlertPay.
Other services which should work in Kenya: Moneybookers, Ikobo, 2CO.
If you still really want to use Paypal,it can work if you can get yourself a bank account in a country in which Paypal offers money withdrawal services. Alternatively, you can deposit your Paypal funds in GetAfreelancer (or similar sites) and request them to pay you by bank transfer, for example.
What payment processing method do you use?
Hi Kelvin, i did find your article useful, thanks.
You’re very welcome Titus. Have you started accepting payments yet? (other than by MPESA)
Am glad i can use alert pay online
Thanks for the helpful information
You are welcome Irene. What else can I help you with?
when i open the four pdfs the message am getting is that the file is damaged.
Let me email you just now
Does the communications bill make receiving payments from online any better?
Well, the communications bill doesn’t really do much to make receiving online payments any better.
It does lay the framework to help make a payment system possible but does no more.
hi.am registered in paypal but i wonder how i can get the payments from my local bank.
How do you mean?
I know for one thing, if you link your Paypal account with your credit card or debit card, then you can make online payments through Paypal very very easily.
hey kelvin,
thanks for the info,am really interested in doing online business but i have only run into scam sites,do you have any knowledge in these online businesses?e.g eBay,affiliate marketing e.t.c
Hey Samuel! Well, you’ve come to the right place! We set this site up to help people like you. What, exactly, are you interested in? We’ll help you get there.
Hey, great article! Okay, whenever I search for online jobs, I get plenty of them, its so confusing I don’t even know where and how to start…
Please can you assist me on how to narrow down my search? Thanks in advance. Cheers
Well, honestly, you need to decide what kind of jobs you want. For example, if you are good in writing then only search for writing jobs. You will be likelier to succeed if you focus on one thing.
Hi,Kelvin
Please enlighten me more on affiliate marketing ,Internet & forex business in Kenya.Is it possible and true that someone can make money online?
Please search this website, we’ve covered those topics in depth before.
I found this interesting Kelvin. I have a question though can you list a few of the Kenyan banks that are on the Swift Network and if possible BIC codes for Equity or National bank. It would really be helpful.
Regards,
Shane.
Here’s a list you may find interesting: http://theswiftcodes.blogspot.com/2010/03/kenya.html
However, I do not know much about banking. Look over here for info on Kenyan banks: http://bankelele.blogspot.com/
Oh and thank you very much for your insight.
This is very useful. i am setting up an alertpay account as i write. i will tell you how well it works. think of me as a guinea pig
Tell me how it goes!