Why future of Kenya’s payments must be cash-lite, not cashless

Policy should not push everyone in a single direction but should build financial systems that are inclusive for all.

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For years now, the idea of a cashless economy has been a hot topic in fintech circles—something that keeps coming up in conferences, boardrooms, and technology meetups across Africa.

In 2015, at a time when M-Pesa had already become deeply embedded in everyday life in Kenya, and people were sending money, paying bills, and even buying groceries through their phones, I sat in a panel discussion talking about the future being cashless.

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Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.