Redtech to Launch Kenya-Nigeria Payments Bridge
The Nigerian firm plans a pilot to speed cross-border transfers between the two markets, targeting the first quarter of 2027.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Financial Services
Nigerian payments-technology firm Redtech plans to launch a cross-border digital payments bridge linking Kenya and Nigeria. The firm aims to launch its first Kenya product by the first quarter of 2027 as a limited offering.
Why it matters
Cross-border settlement between the two countries can currently take three or four days instead of 24 hours, as transactions are unloaded and reloaded at borders due to incompatible national payment APIs. Current African payments often route through multiple non-African intermediaries, adding time and cost.
Redtech processed over $20 billion in 2025 and is leveraging a United Bank for Africa partnership to reach 20 African markets. Central Bank of Kenya clearance is pending, and the pilot's scale and pricing have not been disclosed.
The players
Redtech
Redtech is a Nigerian payments-technology firm developing a cross-border digital payments bridge between Kenya and Nigeria.
United Bank for Africa
United Bank for Africa is a pan-African commercial bank whose partnership with Redtech supports the planned rollout across 20 African markets.
Central Bank of Kenya
The Central Bank of Kenya is the national monetary authority whose regulatory clearance is required before the Kenya product can launch.
The details
The bridge is designed to connect Kenya, home to roughly 58 million residents, with Nigeria, which has over 200 million residents. Redtech is leveraging a partnership with United Bank for Africa to support the rollout.
Timeline
2025: Redtech processed more than $20 billion in transactions.
Q1 2027: Targeted pilot and first Kenya product launch.
Market Landscape
Redtech's planned bridge would enter a Kenyan market in which M-Pesa already holds about 89 percent of mobile-money subscriptions. The competitive position of a new cross-border entrant will depend heavily on how it differentiates from that incumbent.
If the bridge launches as planned, individuals and small businesses sending money between Kenya and Nigeria could see faster transfers than the current three-to-four-day settlement window. Actual fees and availability have not yet been disclosed.
The takeaway
Faster, cheaper cross-border payments within Africa depend on whether national payment systems can interoperate, and this pilot will show whether regulators and banks can align on that. Readers tracking the sector should watch for Central Bank of Kenya approval and early pilot pricing.
What happens next
The firm targets a limited pilot and first Kenya product launch by the first quarter of 2027, pending Central Bank of Kenya regulatory clearance.
Further reading
For broader context on how cross-border payment rails are evolving, explore the Financial Services section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kenya Today.
