Beyond Payments: How Digital Wallets Are Helping Women Save, Borrow and Build Credit

A 2026 survey of 1,992 women micro-entrepreneurs across Nairobi, Murang’a, and Kajiado shows that digital wallets now extend far beyond payments.

They actively shape how women manage money and engage with financial systems.

The survey profile shows a predominantly adult group with an average age of 38 years, pointing to an economically active population.

Education levels are fairly distributed, with 39% completing primary education and another 39% reaching secondary education.

In addition, 11% have technical training, while 5% have university education. On household leadership, 43% of respondents head their households, while 51% live in households led by a partner.

These figures show that the women not only participate in the economy but also drive financial decisions within their homes.

The usage patterns further show consistent engagement with digital wallets as women use these platforms regularly for at least one year, completing at least one transaction every month.

Also Read: Five Reasons More Than 900,000 Kenyan Women Have Switched to Pochi la Biashara

How Digital Wallets Are Helping Women Save, Borrow and Build Credit

• Women store business earnings in digital wallets, reducing reliance on cash and strengthening financial control.
• This practice encourages saving, as women retain funds digitally instead of spending them immediately.
• Regular transactions generate structured financial records that capture income flows and spending patterns over time.
• These records gradually build financial profiles that can improve access to credit in the future.
• Women use digital wallets for multiple functions, including saving, sending money, and managing business cash flow.
• This multi-use behaviour strengthens financial discipline and improves overall money management.
• Over time, consistent usage deepens reliance on digital wallets as essential tools for running micro-enterprises.

Also Read: Pochi la Biashara Records 92% Growth Among Women Entrepreneurs

From Transactions to Financial Stability

At the business level, women report improved efficiency in handling payments and stronger tracking of income flows, leading to smoother day-to-day operations.

Across retail, food, clothing, services, and transport sectors, a clear pattern emerges as digital wallets now sit at the centre of micro-enterprise activity.

Overall, the findings point to a shift from simple transaction use to broader financial management. While the survey focuses on usage patterns.

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More than 900,000 women micro-entrepreneurs across Kenya now use Pochi la Biashara, a mobile-based merchant wallet. PHOTO/ FILE