Cash In, Cash Out Kenya: The Role of MPESA in the Lives of Low Income People

This report presents findings from a study that uses the Financial Diaries methodology to examine how low-income Kenyans use M-PESA, an electronic-money (e-money) service. The study examines the value of M-PESA to low-income individuals, likely areas for M-PESA’s future growth, and whether M-PESA can serve as a platform for financial services beyond remittances. It demonstrates M-PESA usage patterns mimic those of cash and suggests that e-money providers have an untapped potential market in terms of cost and price, provided that they can overcome trust issues.