Kwale County launched a cashless payment system via M-PESA in February 2019, enabling 700,000 residents to pay for market fees, parking levies, and other services through PayBill number 338500. The initiative makes Kwale the 17th devolved unit in Kenya to fully integrate mobile money payments for government services.
Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, Safaricom's Chief Financial Services Officer, stated the partnership improves service delivery by allowing remote transactions. "This eliminates the need for physical visits to county offices, enabling citizens to access services from any location," he said.
Amos Onduko, Kwale County Executive Committee Member for Revenue, emphasized the system's role in enhancing transparency. "We aim to modernize operations and improve accountability in service provision," he noted.
Data from the Central Bank of Kenya showed mobile phones handled 90% of cashless transactions in December 2018. A GSMA report indicated M-PESA-based government payments could cut citizen costs by over 75%.
