Mastercard and Moovn Sign Five-Year Deal to Expand Digital Payments Across East Africa

Mastercard and Moovn Technologies have signed a five-year strategic agreement to expand digital payment services across East Africa, integrating card payments, digital wallets, merchant transactions and cross-border transfers into Moovn’s platforms.

Announced on 19 October 2026, the partnership will combine Mastercard’s global payments network with MoovnPay, Moovn’s digital wallet ecosystem. The services will target users across mobility, logistics, e-commerce and merchant platforms, including drivers, riders, small businesses and consumers.

Prepaid Cards and Merchant Payments

The agreement gives MoovnPay access to virtual and physical prepaid Mastercard cards, payment tokenisation, online and in-app payments through Mastercard Payment Gateway Services, peer-to-peer transfers and eligible cross-border remittances.

These capabilities will allow Moovn to integrate payment services into its existing platforms, enabling users to pay for services, receive money and manage transactions through a connected digital wallet.

The partnership will also advance Pay Local, a service designed to allow participating merchants to accept payments from MoovnPay users. Its expansion across Kenya and Tanzania will give the platform a route into more everyday retail transactions beyond ride-hailing and logistics.

Moovn’s Shooga financial inclusion solution will also play a central role, with plans to introduce a prepaid Mastercard card portfolio linked to the digital wallet.

Cross-Border Transfers and Financial Access

Through Mastercard Move, eligible MoovnPay users will gain additional options for sending and receiving money across borders. The service could support individuals and businesses that need to transfer funds between markets, although the available corridors and eligibility requirements will depend on the rollout.

For merchants and small businesses, integrating payments into platforms they already use could simplify collections and reduce the need to manage separate payment services. The agreement also gives Moovn a way to extend its financial services beyond its core mobility and logistics operations.

Shehryar Ali, Mastercard’s senior vice-president and country manager for East Africa, said digital payments are becoming part of the platforms people use to travel, work and trade. He said Mastercard’s payment network and security technology would help extend Moovn’s services.

Godwin Gabriel, founder and group chief executive of Moovn Technologies, said the agreement would support an integrated financial and lifestyle ecosystem intended to expand access and convenience across African markets.

Africa’s Digital Payments Market

The partnership comes as digital payment adoption expands across the continent. A Mastercard-commissioned report by Genesis Analytics projects that Africa’s digital payments economy could reach US$1.5 trillion by 2030.

Kenya provides an indication of demand among smaller businesses: the figures cited in the announcement show that 95% of Kenyan SMEs accept mobile payments, while 80% prioritise simple and user-friendly payment methods.

Africa’s payment infrastructure is also expanding. The continent had 36 instant payment systems across 31 countries, which processed more than 64 billion transactions worth close to US$2 trillion in 2024.

From Fintech Programme to Commercial Expansion

The agreement builds on MoovnPay’s selection for Mastercard Start Path’s Emerging Fintech programme in September 2025, alongside 10 other fintech companies.

The companies have since moved towards commercial implementation, including the launch of Mastercard Payment Gateway Services in Kenya. Their next priorities include introducing Shooga’s prepaid Mastercard portfolio, expanding Pay Local in Kenya and Tanzania, and extending payment gateway, tokenisation and wallet capabilities.

The five-year agreement gives Moovn a framework to expand its financial services across the region. Its next stage will depend on the rollout of these products and their adoption by consumers, drivers, merchants and small businesses.