Kenya, 5 November 2025 - Nandi Hills Member of Parliament Bernard Kitur has called on global payment companies Visa and Mastercard to provide comprehensive information on their tax contributions and data protection compliance in Kenya.
Speaking through the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, Kitur emphasized the importance of transparency given the scale of the firms’ operations in the country. Visa has operated in Kenya since 2012, while Mastercard entered the market in 2016. Both handle large volumes of digital transactions linking banks, merchants, and consumers, making them significant players in Kenya’s growing cashless economy.
Kitur has requested that the companies submit detailed data on the number of users and institutions integrated into their systems, as well as the total value of transactions processed over the past three financial years. He also seeks clarity on their tax compliance, including amounts paid to the government, the mechanisms used by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to assess and collect taxes, and any challenges encountered in ensuring proper compliance.
“Noting that these systems are foreign-owned entities processing significant transaction volumes, there is need to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with national financial and tax laws,” Kitur said.
The MP’s call comes amid rapid growth in Kenya’s digital payments ecosystem, which has expanded significantly over the past decade. Mobile money platforms, card-based transactions, and online payment systems have transformed the way Kenyans send and receive money, pay for goods and services, and access financial products. This growth has made digital payment companies central to Kenya’s financial infrastructure.
Kenya’s government has increasingly focused on regulatory oversight and tax compliance for both local and foreign digital platforms, while also enforcing laws that safeguard consumer data. The Data Protection Act of 2019 requires that all entities handling personal data, whether domestic or international, adhere to strict privacy and security standards.
Kitur’s appeal underscores the need for greater transparency in the operations of multinational payment firms, ensuring that they contribute fairly to the economy and maintain compliance with Kenya’s legal and regulatory framework.
As digital financial services continue to play a critical role in the country, scrutiny of global players like Visa and Mastercard highlights the importance of maintaining both fiscal responsibility and data security in the evolving cashless economy
