[Kenya] Fintechs replace payday loans with earned wage access solutions

In Kenya’s fintech sector, firms are rolling out earned wage access (EWA) solutions, giving salaried workers quicker access to earned income and reducing reliance on conventional digital loans, The Kenyan Wall Street reports.

The latest companies to adopt EWA are Switchlink Africa, with the launch of the PEST Salary Advance platform, and Little, with its renewed push for MySalary.

The two platforms reportedly operate on a similar premise, allowing employees to access a portion of wages they have already earned before payday through employer partnerships and payroll integration.

The EWA model is gaining traction in Kenya as households contend with rising living costs, emergency expenses and changing employee expectations, which fuel the demand for more flexible cash-flow management between pay cycles.

According to Switchlink Africa, its PEST Salary Advance platform enables employees from partner organisations to access advances ranging from KSh5,000 to KSh100,000, with repayments automatically deducted from payroll over 1 to 3 months.

The company says the solution comes in response to growing demand for convenient and transparent financial products that give employees access to funds when they need them most.

Benedict Kotonya - Head of Commercial at Switchlink Africa - said, "Today's workforce is increasingly looking for financial solutions that are accessible, transparent and aligned with their day-to-day realities." 

Little’s MySalary platform was introduced in March 2025. It reportedly emphasises consumer protection, security and regulatory compliance as competition in the EWA market intensifies.

At its launch, Kamal Budhabhatti - Little Chief Executive Officer - stated that MySalary is a financial wellness solution designed to give employees greater control over their earnings rather than encourage borrowing.

"MySalary is a nano-lending platform that allows employees to access small salary advances based on the number of days they've worked. The platform ensures a seamless and secure experience, with funds transferred directly to mobile money or bank accounts," he said.

Source: The Kenyan Wall Street

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Kenya’s fintech sector, firms are rolling out earned wage access (EWA) solutions, giving salaried workers quicker access to earned income and reducing reliance on conventional digital loans, The Kenyan Wall Street reports.

The latest companies to adopt EWA are Switchlink Africa, with the launch of the PEST Salary Advance platform, and Little, with its renewed push for MySalary.

The two platforms reportedly operate on a similar premise, allowing employees to access a portion of wages they have already earned before payday through employer partnerships and payroll integration.

The EWA model is gaining traction in Kenya as households contend with rising living costs, emergency expenses and changing employee expectations, which fuel the demand for more flexible cash-flow management between pay cycles.

According to Switchlink Africa, its PEST Salary Advance platform enables employees from partner organisations to access advances ranging from KSh5,000 to KSh100,000, with repayments automatically deducted from payroll over 1 to 3 months.

The company says the solution comes in response to growing demand for convenient and transparent financial products that give employees access to funds when they need them most.

Benedict Kotonya - Head of Commercial at Switchlink Africa - said, "Today's workforce is increasingly looking for financial solutions that are accessible, transparent and aligned with their day-to-day realities." 

Little’s MySalary platform was introduced in March 2025. It reportedly emphasises consumer protection, security and regulatory compliance as competition in the EWA market intensifies.

At its launch, Kamal Budhabhatti - Little Chief Executive Officer - stated that MySalary is a financial wellness solution designed to give employees greater control over their earnings rather than encourage borrowing.

"MySalary is a nano-lending platform that allows employees to access small salary advances based on the number of days they've worked. The platform ensures a seamless and secure experience, with funds transferred directly to mobile money or bank accounts," he said.

Source: The Kenyan Wall Street

(Quotes via original reporting)