Kenyan fintech giant Craft Silicon launches TouristTap to simplify cashless payments for visitors

Kenyan fintech giant Craft Silicon has launched TouristTap, a mobile app that turns any NFC-enabled smartphone into a point-of-sale terminal, allowing international visitors to pay directly with Visa or Mastercard. The innovation eliminates the need for ATMs, card machines, or foreign exchange, making everyday transactions in Kenya as seamless as those in luxury hotels.

“Very few small outlets in Kenya accept cards. With TouristTap, your phone becomes your own PDQ. Just tap, enter your PIN, and you’re done,” said Kamal Budhabhatti, Head of Product Dreams and Designs at Craft Silicon, who also leads the company’s sister brands, Little and Blubeetle.

TouristTap works by linking a visitor’s card to their phone, enabling payments directly into mobile money wallets, till numbers, or bank accounts. The app is certified by Visa and Mastercard, complies with PCI-DSS standards, and uses PIN-on-Glass encryption for secure transactions.

The launch comes as Kenya’s digital payments ecosystem expands rapidly. According to the Central Bank of Kenya, card transactions surged to KSh 538.5 billion in 2024, reflecting a nationwide shift to digital-first consumer behavior.

“This is a really significant step in the payments arena,” said Nderitu Muriithi, Chairman of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). “A tourist coming to Kenya can now buy goods at a kiosk, a Maasai market, or a roadside shop with the same confidence as at a five-star hotel. This innovation integrates seamlessly with our broader mobile money ecosystem and brings global payment networks into Kenya’s everyday economy.”

Craft Silicon says TouristTap is designed to serve the entire tourism value chain, from safari lodges to curio sellers. The app is already live in Kenya on Google Play and Apple’s App Store, with plans to expand to other African tourism hotspots.

“We wanted to make sure a visitor can pay for a Maasai bracelet as easily as they can for a luxury hotel,” Budhabhatti noted. “But the real goal is to scale this to other African markets facing the same challenges.”

Tourism contributes more than 10% of Kenya’s GDP, and seamless payments could unlock stronger revenues for local businesses while enhancing the visitor experience. If TouristTap scales successfully, a trip to Kenya may soon be remembered for its wildlife and hospitality—without the inconvenience of cash.