NAIROBI, Kenya – The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has announced it will suspend real-time payment services for three days to allow for a scheduled system upgrade, temporarily affecting high-value money transfers.
In a notice issued on Wednesday, the regulator said Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) services will be unavailable from Friday, August 22, 2025, at 1:30 pm, until Monday, August 25, 2025.
“Dear Customer, the Central Bank of Kenya will upgrade its systems on Friday, August 22, 2025 at 1:30 pm, impacting RTGS payment processing. Please ensure all RTGS payments are made by 12:30 pm on that date. Normal services will resume on Monday, August 25, 2025,” CBK said in the advisory.
The bank has urged customers to complete all pending RTGS payments by 12:30 pm on Friday to avoid disruptions.
The suspension will likely inconvenience businesses, contractors, suppliers and individuals relying on the system for time-sensitive transactions, as they will have to wait until Monday for payments to be processed.
RTGS is a critical channel that enables banks and financial institutions to transfer large sums instantly, making it essential for corporate payments, interbank settlements and other high-value transactions.
Although temporary, the three-day disruption could affect cash flow and settlement schedules for institutions that fail to plan ahead.
The system upgrade comes barely two months after CBK extended RTGS operating hours on July 1, 2025, a move that signaled its intention to transition towards a 24-hour digital settlement framework.
The regulator said the enhancements are part of efforts to modernise the financial sector and support Kenya’s goal of building a competitive digital economy.
