Partnership Strikes with Pesawise to Extend Cross Switch's Reach in Kenya
Cross Switch, a global payment processing company, and Pesawise, a Kenyan fintech firm, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at expanding and accelerating growth in various sectors across Kenya and Africa. The sectors in focus for the partnership include e-commerce, hospitality, delivery services, and cryptocurrency (in approved markets).
The alliance leverages Pesawise’s strong local regulatory standing and reputation alongside Cross Switch’s global payment processing technology to deliver scalable, secure, and affordable payment solutions tailored for these industries.
Boosting E-commerce Payments
The collaboration seeks to solve challenges like fragmented payment systems, high transaction fees, and slow settlements, thereby facilitating smoother online shopping payments and boosting mobile money adoption across Africa.
Supporting Hospitality and Delivery Services
Although specific details on these sectors are less highlighted, the partnership’s comprehensive payment solutions platform is positioned to support transactions in these industries by improving payment efficiency and security.
Cryptocurrency Integration
Through integration of blockchain infrastructure and compliant stablecoin solutions, the partnership aims to incorporate crypto-enabled payment methods, simplifying cross-border and local transactions.
Regulatory Compliance and Innovation
Cross Switch’s recent acquisition of a Third-Party Payment Processor license and Pesawise’s licensed status in Kenya reinforce their capacity to offer compliant, market-leading fintech services, enhancing trust and adoption among businesses and consumers.
The partnership with Pesawise is supporting local merchants like Glovo Kenya, and Cross Switch plans to become a go-to payment solution provider for businesses of all sizes in Kenya. Cross Switch's unified platform simplifies processing, cuts costs, and speeds up settlements.
Jamal Khan, CEO of Pesawise, aims to strengthen the digital payments ecosystem in Kenya with Cross Switch. Tim Davis, CEO of Cross Switch, expressed a shared mission to democratize technology and drive social impact with Pesawise. The partnership is also aimed at supporting social impact efforts across Africa, beyond Kenya.
Cross Switch has an established presence in Africa and Latin America, and the partnership gives Cross Switch direct access to Kenya's growing digital payments market. The partnership with Pesawise is helping Cross Switch deepen its local impact in Kenya.
Together, Cross Switch and Pesawise are set to drive digital financial inclusion and infrastructure growth in Kenya, supporting the country’s broader ambition to become a leading tech hub in Africa. The partnership is expected to facilitate innovations showcased at major tech events like Ai Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya in 2026.
In summary, the Cross Switch–Pesawise partnership represents a significant step to expand digital payments and fintech ecosystems in Kenya and Africa, focusing on e-commerce, hospitality, crypto, and delivery services by combining global technology with local market expertise and regulatory compliance. Cross Switch and Pesawise share a mission to democratize digital finance. Cross Switch intends to leverage Pesawise's agile, young management team to further its operations in Kenya.
The partnership between Cross Switch and Pesawise aims to utilize Cross Switch's global technology and Pesawise's local market expertise to deliver scalable, secure, and affordable payment solutions for businesses in sectors like e-commerce, hospitality, and delivery services, while also integrating cryptocurrency in approved markets.
By combining their resources, the alliance aims to boost online shopping payments, improve payment efficiency and security in the hospitality and delivery sectors, simplify cross-border and local transactions through the integration of blockchain infrastructure and compliant stablecoin solutions, and support social impact efforts across Africa.
