Digital Wages for Decent Work in Kenya

In Kenya, 78 percent of wage earners now receive digital payments, a remarkable increase from 55 percent in 2014, thanks to mobile money innovations. However, challenges remain in transitioning from cash wages to responsible digital payments. This research brief analyzes the potential for responsible digital wage payments in Kenya.

The study focused on the tea and cut-flower sectors, which are the two largest exporters of goods in the country, but that still have many workers paid in cash. The assessment consisted of a desk review and secondary data analysis; interviews with key informants, including from government institutions, financial service providers, industry associations and employers’ and workers’ organizations; interviews with a sample of enterprises and focus group discussions with workers.