Grace Ashiru
Kenya has taken a step toward modernizing its financial infrastructure by extending the operating hours of its Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system, the Kenya Electronic Payment and Settlement System (KEPSS). Beginning July 1, 2025, KEPSS will operate from 7 AM to 7 PM on business days, expanding from its current schedule of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
KEPSS serves as Kenya’s version of an RTGS system, which many countries utilize as a central infrastructure for securely processing real-time, high-value payments between banks.
This extension marks a shift in the country’s approach to managing large-value, time-sensitive digital transactions. It paves the way for further reforms that could enhance Kenya’s financial sector by making it more competitive, inclusive, and less reliant on dominant private fintech platforms.
The extended hours provide greater flexibility for banks, businesses, and government agencies. Additionally, it suggests that the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is moving closer to implementing real-time settlement across longer time windows—a crucial step toward establishing a fully operational 24/7 digital economy.
This development is particularly significant as fintech companies and telecommunications providers advocate for access to core payment infrastructure. Currently, only banks and select regulated institutions have direct access to KEPSS. Many fintech founders and users view the absence of public infrastructure for customer-to-business (C2B) payments as a major obstacle to affordability and competition.
Although the CBK has not announced its next steps, the regulator may eventually allow licensed non-bank entities to access KEPSS or a comparable real-time infrastructure layer. Such a move would lower entry barriers, reduce dependence on costly third-party integrations, and enable fintechs to scale alternative offerings.
By aligning with global trends in RTGS accessibility, the CBK is preparing the groundwork for broader reforms. In countries like India, Singapore, and parts of Europe, real-time payment systems now operate around the clock and, in some cases, include non-bank participants. Kenya’s decision could be the first of several steps in that direction.
