When can I send money to Kenya with Peanut?

Peanut is actively working on expanding to Kenya with M-Pesa integration. Sign up to get notified when the service launches — you will be among the first to know.

What payment methods will be supported in Kenya?

Peanut plans to integrate with M-Pesa, Kenya's dominant mobile money system with 90%+ penetration. M-Pesa supports merchant payments, person-to-person transfers, bill payments, and cash withdrawals through a vast agent network.

How do I get early access?

Sign up at peanut.me to join the notification list. When Peanut launches in Kenya, early sign-ups will be the first to get access.

Will the recipient need a Kenyan National ID?

No. Peanut will not require a Kenyan National ID. Recipients will verify with any passport, making it accessible to visitors and the diaspora.

Can the recipient withdraw cash in Kenya?

Yes. M-Pesa has more agents than bank branches and ATMs combined in Kenya. When Peanut launches, recipients will be able to withdraw cash from any M-Pesa agent across the country.

How much can I save compared to traditional services?

Traditional remittance services charge 5-10% on corridors to Kenya. Peanut charges no fees and converts at a competitive market rate. On a $500 transfer, that means $25-$50 more reaching the recipient.

Is Peanut available in Kenya right now?

Kenya currently supports deposit and withdrawal of digital dollars via supported networks. Local spending via M-Pesa is the feature that is coming soon.

Send Money to Kenya with Peanut — Coming Soon

Peanut is expanding to Kenya. Soon you'll be able to send money and have recipients spend via M-Pesa — the mobile money system used by 90%+ of Kenyans.

Send Money to Kenya with Peanut — Coming Soon

Kenya pioneered mobile money, and M-Pesa is its crown achievement. With over 90% mobile money penetration, M-Pesa is not just a payment app — it is the national payment infrastructure. From taxi rides and groceries to rent and utility bills, M-Pesa is how Kenyans pay. Yet sending money to Kenya from abroad still means dealing with transfer fees of 5-10%, slow settlement times, and exchange rates that reduce the shillings the recipient actually receives. Kenya receives approximately $4 billion per year in remittances, and a significant portion of that goes to fees.

Peanut is building a better way. Soon you will be able to send money to Kenya and have the recipient spend locally via M-Pesa — paying at over 550,000 merchants, sending to friends and family, paying bills, or withdrawing cash through the vast agent network. No fees, no local ID required.

Why Peanut Will Be the Best Way to Send Money to Kenya

Better Exchange Rate

The Kenyan shilling has experienced gradual depreciation against the US dollar, and exchange rates can shift during periods of dollar scarcity. Traditional services add their own markup on top of already unfavorable rates. Peanut converts digital dollars directly to local currency at a competitive market rate, cutting out the layered markups that reduce what the family receives in shillings.

No Fees

Peanut charges nothing on deposits, sending, or local spending. Compare that to the 5-10% fees that some services charge on remittance corridors to Kenya. On a $500 transfer, traditional fees can take $25-$50 away from the recipient. Every dollar sent through Peanut arrives as spending power.

Instant via M-Pesa

M-Pesa processes billions of dollars in transactions annually. Payments settle instantly — whether paying a merchant till number, sending to a friend's phone number, or paying utility bills. When Peanut launches, recipients will access funds through M-Pesa immediately rather than waiting days for a traditional bank transfer.

No Local ID Needed

Kenya's financial system requires a National ID for full M-Pesa access, though visitors can register with a Kenyan SIM card and passport. Peanut simplifies this further — recipients will verify with any passport, no local National ID required.

How It Will Work

1
Sign up and verify
Create a Peanut account and complete identity verification with your passport. Takes under 2 minutes for most users.
2
Deposit funds
Fund your Peanut account via bank transfer (SEPA from Europe, ACH from the US) or send digital dollars from any major exchange.
3
Send to your recipient
Your recipient creates a Peanut account or receives funds to an existing one. Peanut-to-Peanut transfers arrive instantly.
4
Recipient spends via M-Pesa
The recipient pays merchants, sends to friends, pays bills, or withdraws cash through M-Pesa's agent network — all instantly.

What the Recipient Will Be Able to Do

Pay Merchants via M-Pesa (Lipa Na M-Pesa)

M-Pesa's Lipa Na M-Pesa service connects over 550,000 merchants across Kenya — supermarkets (Naivas, Carrefour, Quickmart), restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, matatus (public transport), street food vendors, and online services. The recipient enters the merchant till number, confirms the amount in KES, and payment settles instantly.

Send to Friends and Family

M-Pesa's person-to-person transfers work by phone number. Recipients will be able to send money to anyone with an M-Pesa account — settling debts, sending to family, or sharing funds across the country.

Pay Bills

Utility companies (electricity, water, internet), schools, and other service providers accept M-Pesa payments. Recipients can pay bills directly from their balance.

Cash Withdrawal via Agent Network

M-Pesa's agent network is extensive — there are more M-Pesa agents than bank branches and ATMs combined in Kenya. Recipients can withdraw cash from any agent, making funds accessible even in rural areas.

Bank Withdrawal

Recipients will also be able to withdraw to a Kenyan bank account, converting their digital dollar balance to shillings at the point of withdrawal.

Who This Is For

Kenyan Diaspora Sending Home

The Kenyan diaspora in the UK, US, and Canada sends approximately $4 billion per year in remittances. Families depend on this money for daily expenses, school fees, healthcare, and emergencies. Traditional services charge 5-10% in combined fees and rate markups. Peanut's no-fee model means more shillings reach the family — and M-Pesa access means they can spend it immediately at shops, markets, and on transport.

Tourists Visiting Kenya

Kenya attracts visitors to its national parks, beaches, and vibrant cities. Card acceptance is improving but M-Pesa remains the primary payment method. Peanut will give tourists access to M-Pesa without needing to navigate local SIM card registration and banking requirements.

NGOs and Aid Workers

Kenya hosts numerous international organizations and aid workers who need to move money efficiently across borders. Peanut's instant, fee-free transfers through M-Pesa provide a practical solution for operational and personal expenses.

How Much Will It Cost?

Peanut charges no fees on any operation. The exchange rate converts digital dollars directly to KES at a competitive market rate.

Service	Fee	Exchange Rate	Recipient Gets
Peanut (planned)	$0	Market rate	More shillings
Wise	~$3-7	Mid-market with markup	Less
Western Union	$5-15	Worst rate	Significantly less
Traditional services	5-10%	Variable markup	Much less

Get Notified

Sending from Specific Countries

Send Money from the United Kingdom to Kenya

The UK-Kenya corridor is the largest source of remittances to Kenya, driven by a significant Kenyan diaspora. UK senders will deposit via SEPA (free, 90% arrive in under 20 minutes) and send to Kenya. The recipient spends via M-Pesa instantly — no Western Union queue, no multi-day wait, no 5-10% fees.

Send Money from the United States to Kenya

The US is another major origin for Kenya-bound remittances. US senders will deposit via ACH (free, 1-3 business days) or digital dollars from an exchange (arrives in minutes). The recipient accesses funds through M-Pesa in real time.