The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has unveiled a QR Code Standard that seeks to hasten online payments for businesses and customers.
The standard will guide how payment service providers and banks that are regulated by the CBK will issue Quick Response (QR) codes to consumers and businesses that accept digital payments.
QR Codes are machine-readable codes consisting of an array of black and white squares containing information that provide an alternative option for initiating and accepting digital payments made by customers at supermarkets, general stores, and shops, among other outlets.
“The implementation of the Standard, and use of standardized QR Code-enabled payments, will bring practical benefits to businesses and customers. Customers will now be able to make digital payments in an easy, fast, convenient, and secure manner using QR,” CBK Governor John Njoroge said.
“Previously, customers had to manually input different payment codes and numbers, hence creating friction and cumbersome payment processes that are prone to errors.”
Njoroge added that the code will also promote inclusion by enabling institutions of various sizes and customer focus to increase adoption of digital payments.
In the long term, the use of standardized QR codes will facilitate the launch of innovative products and deepen the benefits already enjoyed by customers making payments across various institutions and mobile money networks (interoperability).
“The Standard, which is based on the EMVCo QR Code Specification, has been developed through collaboration between CBK, Payment Service Providers, banks, card schemes, among others, “he added.
“The Standard will be rolled out in a phased approach as these players align their operations to requirements set out in the Standard and increase customer awareness.”
The issuance of the standard marks an important step in the implementation of the National Payments Strategy for 2022–2025.
The strategy was launched in February last year and, among other things, supports the adoption of key standards and aligns Kenya’s national payment system with global best practices.
With the launch of the QR Standard, Kenya is joining other leading markets that have implemented a standardized approach to issuing QR codes for facilitating payments.
These countries include the Philippines, Jordan, South Africa, Singapore, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, India, and China. (
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