Kenya joins other leading markets such as the Philippines, Jordan, South Africa, Singapore, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, India, and China, in implementing the standardized approach to issuing QR codes for facilitating payments.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has introduced the Kenya Quick Response Code Standard 2023 (KE-QR Code Standard 2023). This Standard will guide how Payment Service Providers and banks issue Quick Response (QR) codes to consumers and businesses that accept digital payments. QR codes are a convenient way for customers to initiate and accept digital payments made at various points of sale, such as supermarkets and shops.
The implementation of the KE-QR Code Standard 2023 will bring practical benefits to businesses and customers. It will make digital payments easy, fast, convenient, and secure. Customers will no longer have to manually input different payment codes and numbers, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors. This Standard will also promote inclusion by enabling institutions of various sizes and customers to focus on increasing the adoption of digital payments.
The KE-QR Code Standard 2023 is based on the EMVCo QR Code Specification and has been developed through collaboration between the CBK, Payment Service Providers, banks, and card schemes, among others. The Standard will be rolled out in a phased approach as these players align their operations to the requirements set out in the Standard and increase customer awareness.
The issuance of this Standard marks an important step in implementing the National Payments Strategy 2022 – 2025, which aims to support the adoption of key standards and align Kenya’s National Payment System to global best practices.
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