Kenya has initiated the modernization of its financial infrastructure through the extension of operating hours for its Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system, officially known as the Kenya Electronic Payment and Settlement System (KEPSS). Effective July 1, 2025, KEPSS will operate from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on business days, a significant increase from the previous schedule of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
KEPSS serves as Kenya’s dedicated RTGS system, functioning as the central infrastructure used by banks to securely transfer high value payments in real time.
This extension of operating hours indicates a strategic shift in how Kenya manages large value, time sensitive digital transactions. It is a crucial step that could foster a more competitive and inclusive financial sector, reducing its reliance on established private financial technology platforms.
The expanded hours directly improve operational flexibility for banks, businesses, and government institutions. Furthermore, the move signals that the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is progressively working towards enabling real time settlement across longer windows. This capability is essential if Kenya intends to transition fully into a 24/7 digital economy.
This development is particularly relevant given the ongoing push by financial technology companies and telecommunication providers for access to core payment infrastructure. Currently, direct access to KEPSS is limited exclusively to banks and a select few regulated institutions. Many industry players and fintech founders view the absence of public settlement rails for customer to business (C2B) payments as a major obstacle to both affordability and market competition.
The CBK has not yet announced its subsequent regulatory steps. However, the regulator may eventually grant licensed non bank players access to KEPSS or a similar real time infrastructure layer. Such a decision would significantly lower entry barriers, decrease the dependence on costly third party integrations, and enable fintech companies to offer alternative services at scale.
By increasing KEPSS availability, the CBK is laying the groundwork for future reforms, aligning Kenya with global trends in RTGS system expansion. In economies such as India, Singapore, and various parts of Europe, real time payment systems now operate 24/7, and some form of non bank participation is permitted. Kenya’s recent action could be the first of many steps in this same direction.
