CC image courtesy of teachandlearn on Flickr.
Visa is to introduce a service allowing Kenyan commuters to pay fares on public transport via mobile money, joining Safaricom, Google and Equity Bank in the market.
Business Daily reports commuters will tap the cards on a mobile phone or gadget to make payment, with Visa planning on extending the solution to kiosks, fast food outlets and car parks.
The Kenyan government has banned cash transactions on public transport from July, with the Visa solution set to launch in June.
Jabu Basopo, Visa’s manager for sub-Saharan Africa, told Business Daily: “We’re currently engaging matatu owners and banks to deploy contactless payments. We’re also targeting areas such as fast-food restaurants and parking where there is need to beat queues by processing payments quickly.”
HumanIPO reported in September Safaricom was working on introducing a Lipa na M-Pesa service for Kenya’s popular matatu public transport industry, where commuters will pay fares using mobile money.
Google’s “tap and go” Beba Pay card, in conjunction with Equity Bank, and the Kenya Bus Abiria Card also provide competition.
The multi billion untaxed industry has more than 22,000 PSV licensed operators in the country, according to the traffic licensing board.
