How to Accept M-Pesa and Card Payments on Your Website
The simplest way for an African business to take online payments: a payment gateway account, a checkout or payment link, and automatic confirmation.
The short answer
The simplest route is a payment gateway such as Paystack, which supports M-Pesa and cards in Kenya and cards, bank and mobile money in other markets. Create your own account, connect it to your website or invoicing tool, and confirm payments automatically through a webhook so orders and invoices update themselves.
Your options
Direct M-Pesa (Daraja) gives the lowest fees but needs development work. A gateway like Paystack handles M-Pesa and cards together with less setup.
What a good setup looks like
Nexio Business OS works this way: connect your own Paystack keys, then send payment links on invoices that mark themselves paid.
- ✓Payments settle to your own account, not an agency's
- ✓Every payment has a unique reference
- ✓A webhook confirms payment — never rely on the customer reaching a 'thank you' page
- ✓The order or invoice updates automatically when paid
Frequently asked
Is direct M-Pesa integration available in Nexio?
Not yet — it's listed as coming soon. Today M-Pesa works through Paystack in Kenya.
How long does Paystack approval take?
It depends on Paystack's business verification; test keys work immediately so you can try everything first.