Building a Local Checkout Experience for Kenya

// Kenya-optimised transaction initialization
var response = await fetch('https://api.paystack.co/transaction/initialize', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: 'Bearer ' + process.env.PAYSTACK_SECRET_KEY,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    email: customer.email,
    phone: customer.phone, // e.g., '0712345678' or '+254712345678' — required for M-Pesa STK push
    amount: Math.round(orderAmountKES * 100), // KES to smallest unit
    currency: 'KES',
    reference: generateReference(),
    channels: ['mobile_money', 'card', 'bank'], // M-Pesa first in the list
    metadata: {
      order_id: order.id,
    },
    callback_url: 'https://yourapp.com/payment/callback',
  }),
});

M-Pesa STK push flow via Paystack:

1. Customer selects M-Pesa at checkout
2. Paystack sends an STK push to the customer's phone
3. Customer enters their M-Pesa PIN
4. Paystack fires a charge.success webhook to your server

The STK push requires a live Safaricom number — test mode simulates it automatically.

• Currency display: Show as "KES 1,000" or "Ksh 1,000" — both are familiar to Kenyan users.
• M-Pesa STK push delays: Tell customers "A payment prompt will appear on your phone within 30 seconds." Safaricom network congestion can delay STK pushes.
• Wrong number: If the customer enters their email but the phone number is wrong, the STK push fails silently. Add a phone number confirmation step at checkout.
• Airtel Money: Paystack also supports Airtel Money in Kenya via the mobile_money channel — it is enabled automatically for Airtel numbers.

This guide is part of the Paystack by country guide.

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