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CARD AUTHENTICATION · M-PESA · KENYA

2D payment gateway in Kenya: what it means and what to use instead

Many merchants search for a 2D payment gateway in Kenya because they want a card checkout without the extra authentication step. This page explains the difference between 2D and 3D Secure, states that Payment Gateway Kenya does not offer 2D or non-3DS processing, and shows how M-Pesa works as the supported alternative.

"2D" is the market shorthand for a card payment that is processed without 3D Secure, the extra step where the cardholder confirms the purchase with their card issuer. Payment Gateway Kenya does not offer 2D or non-3DS processing. For Kenyan merchants, our gateway supports M-Pesa pay-ins, plus payouts where confirmed for the account.

2D payment gateway illustration
2D means a card checkout with no additional cardholder authentication step.
3D Secure adds a confirmation step with the card issuer, such as a one-time code or an approval in a banking app.
Payment Gateway Kenya does not offer 2D or non-3DS processing in any form.
In Kenya, Payment Gateway Kenya supports M-Pesa only. You can connect through the API (H2H) or the Hosted Payment Page.

2D vs 3D Secure: how the two card flows differ

Both terms describe how a card payment is checked before it is approved. The difference is whether the card issuer asks the cardholder to confirm the payment. The table below sets out the general difference and where Payment Gateway Kenya stands.

2D (non-3DS) and 3D Secure card flows compared, with the Payment Gateway Kenya position
Aspect2D (non-3DS) card flow3D Secure card flow
Customer step after entering card detailsNo further step. The payment goes straight to authorisation.The customer confirms the payment with their card issuer before authorisation.
Who checks the cardholderNo cardholder check by the issuer beyond the card details entered.The card issuer checks the cardholder, for example by a one-time code or banking app approval.
What the customer seesA single card form.A card form, then an issuer prompt or redirect.
Why the term is usedOften searched by merchants who want fewer checkout steps.The standard approach many card issuers expect for online card payments.
Payment Gateway Kenya positionNot offered. Payment Gateway Kenya does not offer 2D or non-3DS processing.Card methods are not part of the Kenya offer. In Kenya, Payment Gateway Kenya supports M-Pesa only.

For a longer background read on this topic, see our article on 2D payments in Kenya.

Why merchants search for a 2D payment gateway

Searching for 2D is usually a response to a practical checkout problem, not a sign of anything unusual. Merchants tend to arrive at the term for a handful of common reasons.

  • Concern about checkout steps: some merchants worry that customers abandon the payment when an issuer prompt appears.
  • Customers who cannot complete the prompt: for example, a customer without access to the phone number or banking app linked to their card.
  • Older plugins or integrations: some setups were built before issuer authentication became common and do not handle the extra step well.
  • Unclear terminology: "2D", "non-3DS" and "direct card processing" are often used loosely, and merchants search to find out what each one means.

In Kenya, many customers already pay by phone, so the real question is often how to take payment quickly rather than how to remove a card step. That is where M-Pesa fits.

What Payment Gateway Kenya offers instead: M-Pesa pay-ins

Payment Gateway Kenya is a payment gateway for M-Pesa pay-ins, plus payouts where confirmed for the account. In Kenya the supported method is M-Pesa only. You can read more about how we handle M-Pesa payments and about the wider set of payment methods in Kenya.

On Safaricom Daraja, M-PESA Express (Lipa na M-PESA Online) is the prompt-style request started by a business. The market often calls this "STK Push", a term used in Safaricom documentation. PayBill and Till are separate transaction types.

API (H2H)

Connect your own checkout or back office directly to the gateway. H2H is a connection route, not a white-label product.

Hosted Payment Page

Send customers to a hosted page to pay with M-Pesa. It is a second way into the same gateway, not a separate product.

Postbacks

Postbacks send transaction status to your system so you can update orders. They are not a customer notification service.

We keep three flows separate. A pay-in is when your customer pays you. A payout is when your business pays a customer. Merchant settlement is when funds are sent to you as the merchant.

  1. Illustrative flow, step 1: order created

    Your customer chooses M-Pesa at checkout for an order of, for example, KES 2,500.

  2. Illustrative flow, step 2: request sent

    Your system calls the gateway through the API (H2H), or redirects the customer to the Hosted Payment Page.

  3. Illustrative flow, step 3: customer confirms

    The customer receives an M-PESA Express prompt on their phone and confirms the payment.

  4. Illustrative flow, step 4: status returned

    A postback sends the transaction status to your system, and you update the order.

Merchant settlements are sent on the same day (T+0). This refers to when settlement is sent, not when funds are credited to your account. Our overall transaction success rate is 85%, measured as successful transactions divided by all transactions.

Existing merchants can add supported payment methods at no extra connection fee. The number of enabled methods does not change the connection price. Pricing is custom, so please talk to sales.

Our position on 2D and non-3DS processing

Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions about 2D payments, 3D Secure and M-Pesa with Payment Gateway Kenya.

What is a 2D payment gateway?

"2D" is market shorthand for card processing without 3D Secure. In a 2D flow, the customer enters card details and the payment goes for authorisation without an extra confirmation step with the card issuer.

Does Payment Gateway Kenya offer a 2D payment gateway in Kenya?

No. Payment Gateway Kenya does not offer 2D or non-3DS processing. In Kenya, the supported method is M-Pesa only.

What does additional authentication mean in 3D Secure?

It means the card issuer asks the cardholder to confirm the payment, for example with a one-time code or an approval in a banking app. The step happens after the card details are entered and before the payment is authorised.

What can I use instead of a card checkout in Kenya?

With Payment Gateway Kenya, you can accept M-Pesa pay-ins through the API (H2H) or the Hosted Payment Page. The customer confirms the payment on their phone through an M-PESA Express prompt.

Can Payment Gateway Kenya send payouts as well as take payments?

Payouts are available where confirmed for the account. Pay-ins, payouts and merchant settlement are three separate flows, so ask our team which ones apply to your business.

When are merchant settlements sent?

Merchant settlements are sent on the same day (T+0). This describes when settlement is sent, not when funds are credited to your account.

How much does Payment Gateway Kenya cost?

Pricing is custom, so please talk to sales. Existing merchants can add supported payment methods at no extra connection fee, and the number of enabled methods does not change the connection price.

Accept M-Pesa through one gateway

If you came here looking for a 2D card checkout, the supported route with Payment Gateway Kenya is M-Pesa. Tell us about your business, your checkout and whether you need payouts, and our team will go through the options with you.

Start here: get started with Payment Gateway Kenya.

Get started with M-PesaSee how M-Pesa worksTalk to sales