NAIROBI, Kenya – Despite significant strides in financial inclusion, Kenyan men still lead in mobile money usage, according to a Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) report, handling the bulk of transactions while women lag behind.
In 2024, men accounted for 61% of all mobile money transactions across platforms including M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and T-Kash, amounting to Sh5.3 trillion out of a total Sh8.69 trillion transacted.
Women, by contrast, handled just 39% of the total transaction value, or Sh3.3 trillion.
The report also highlights that the average transaction value for women was lower than men’s, with women transferring Sh1,034 on average compared with Sh1,163 per transaction for men.
Analysts say these trends mirror broader income disparities in Kenya, where men dominate higher-paying roles in both government and corporate sectors.
Data from 2023 shows that 247,571 men earned over Sh100,000 monthly, compared with 139,847 women, reflecting the persistent gender imbalance in top-level employment.
The pay gap remains a longstanding challenge despite decades-old laws outlawing sex discrimination.
The CBK report notes that these figures present opportunities for mobile money operators to design more inclusive products tailored to women, helping close the adoption gap.
While mobile money usage is steadily rising and the gender gap in this sector has narrowed to 1.8% in 2024 from 5.2% in 2021, disparities remain significant in banking, insurance, and pension services.
“Understanding these differences is critical for shaping financial products that can better support women’s adoption and participation in the digital economy,” the report says.
Mobile money has transformed financial transactions in Kenya, facilitating payments for utilities, energy, food, and transport.
However, gendered patterns of use reflect wider economic inequalities that policymakers and financial service providers continue to address.
