Paying an 80-bob transaction fee to buy a 30-bob avocado doesn't make common cents and neither does losing a slice of every sale to charges. Lipa na KCB lets your customers pay to your business directly.
Here's how to accept Lipa na KCB business payments and make them yourself.
The problem: every sale costs you quietly.
Between charges on the money coming in and the time spent counting cash at close, getting paid is rarely free or tidy. Lipa na KCB fixes both. Customers pay your business by entering your KCB till number on the KCB Mobile App or *522#, payments from KCB and Vooma come in free, and every sale leaves a clean digital record. For account-based or bulk collections you can use KCB Paybill 522533; where customers pay from other networks, standard telco charges may apply.
How to pay business with Lipa na KCB (KCB App)
1. Open the KCB Mobile App and tap Pay, then Lipa na KCB.
2. Enter the KCB till number.
3. Enter the amount.
4. Confirm the details and authorize with your PIN.
5. Both you and the merchant receive a confirmation SMS.
How to pay via *522# (no smartphone)
1. Dial *522# and select Payments.
2. Choose Vooma Buy Goods.
3. Enter the Vooma till number, then the amount, and confirm.
How to accept Lipa na KCB business payments (for businesses)
To accept Lipa na KCB payments, your business needs its own KCB till. You can apply through KCB and, once set up, you display your till number so customers can pay you directly and for free from KCB and Vooma. Requirements typically include a KCB business account and your business registration documents.
Lipa na KCB vs other ways to get paid
How you get paid | Cost from KCB / Vooma | Cost from other networks | Best for |
Lipa na KCB till | Free | Telco charges may apply | Everyday face-to-face sales |
KCB Paybill 522533 | Telco charges apply | Account-based / bulk collections | |
Cash | Not applicable | Not applicable | Small informal sales — but no record and a security risk |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lipa na KCB really free?
Payments made from KCB and Vooma are free. Where customers pay from other mobile networks, standard telco charges may apply.
How do customers pay my business?
They enter your KCB till number on the KCB App or via *522#, enter the amount, and confirm.
How do I get a till for my business?
Apply through KCB. You will generally need a KCB business account and your registration documents.
Can customers who don't bank with KCB still pay me?
Yes, for example through Paybill 522533, though charges from their network may apply.
Do I need a business account to accept Lipa na KCB?
A valid KCB account is required.
How quickly do I receive the money?
Settlement is done real-time, on demand or end of the day. This depends with the customer request
Get started
Keep more of every shilling you earn, give your customers a free way to pay, and end the day with a clean record of every sale. Set up Lipa na KCB for your business and pay other KCB tills free while you're at it.
