Behind every remittance is a story of sacrifice, love, and resilience. NALA’s entry into Kenya’s $4.94B remittance market promises to ease these journeys, cutting costs and delays for families relying on diaspora support.
Announced in early September 2025, this move promises faster, cheaper, and more reliable money transfers, tapping into a market that saw record inflows of $4.94 billion in 2024.
NALA’s foray into Kenya marks a significant milestone in its growth strategy through strategic partnerships, enabling real-time remittances from abroad.
At the Heart of NALA’s Kenya Strategy: Key Partnerships
Equity Bank and PesaLink Partnership (September 2025):
NALA teamed up with Equity Bank Kenya and PesaLink (operated by Integrated Payments Service Limited, owned by the Kenya Bankers Association).
This alliance routes transfers through PesaLink’s instant payment network, with Equity Bank handling settlements.
Senders in the US, UK, or Europe can use the NALA app to transfer via debit card or bank account, with funds arriving in real time to Kenyan mobile wallets (like M-PESA) or bank accounts.
NCBA Bank Partnership (October 2024):
Building on an earlier tie-up, NCBA serves as NALA’s settlement bank in Kenya, facilitating foreign exchange and last-mile deliveries via mobile money and banks.
NCBA Group MD John Gachora noted the commitment to “faster, safer, and more affordable money transfers,” while Eddy highlighted alignment with regulatory goals.
These partnerships ensure compliance with US, UK, EU, and Kenyan regulations, enhancing trust and scalability.
NALA’s Global Fintech Footprint
Founded in 2017, NALA is a global fintech platform dedicated to disrupting cross-border payments, particularly for the “Next Billion” users in emerging markets.
Headquartered in Tanzania but with a strong focus on Africa and Asia, NALA enables seamless money transfers from developed economies to regions like East Africa.
The company prioritises two core goals: slashing high cross-border fees and enhancing transaction reliability.
Its app allows users to send money instantly from the US, UK, and several EU nations to recipients in destinations across Africa and Asia.
With over 500,000 users worldwide, NALA boasts a 4.8 user rating and features like real-time notifications, 24/7 multilingual support, and high transaction limits up to $5,000/£5,000/€5,000 per day.
READ ALSO:NCBA and Nala Team Up for Borderless Payments
What sets NALA apart? Zero fees on mobile money transfers (with a small exchange rate margin) and minimal charges for bank transfers, all transparently displayed in-app.
This user-centric approach has positioned NALA as one of Africa’s top remittance startups.
Benefits for Users: Why Choose NALA for Remittances to Kenya?
For diaspora Kenyans and businesses, NALA offers compelling advantages:
- Speed: Instant transfers to mobile wallets or banks.
- Cost Savings: No fees for mobile money, transparent rates, reducing billions lost to fees annually.
- Convenience: App-based sending with Apple Pay/Google Pay integration.
- Security & Inclusion: Regulated partnerships that ensure safe, accessible financial services.
Users like those in the Kenyan diaspora can now “send love home” more efficiently, supporting everything from daily expenses to major investments.
Facing the Competition: Challenges in Kenya’s Crowded Market
Kenya’s remittance landscape is competitive, dominated by Safaricom’s M-PESA, international giants like Western Union and MoneyGram, and banks with diaspora arms.
NALA’s success hinges on differentiating through cost and speed, but challenges include navigating regulatory complexities and building user trust in a market loyal to incumbents.
Despite this, NALA’s partnership model could accelerate adoption and inspire other fintechs.
The timing couldn’t be better. Kenya’s remittance inflows hit an all-time high of $4.94 billion in 2024, representing an 18% year-over-year increase and making remittances the country’s second-largest source of foreign exchange after agricultural exports.
As of 2025, monthly remittances continue to climb, with May recording a near-record $440 million, June at $423 million, and July at $410 million.
These figures highlight the market’s potential, driven by Kenyans abroad sending money for family support, investments, and business.
NALA’s entry sidesteps lengthy licensing hurdles for foreign fintechs by leveraging local partnerships, a smart tactic that may become a blueprint for African fintech expansion.
Ronnie Paul is a seasoned writer and analyst with a prolific portfolio of over 1,000 published articles, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency, climate change, and digital finance at Africa Digest News.
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