The era of ‘fumbling for change’ in the back of a three-wheeler is coming to a decisive end. In a move that signals the formalisation of one of Africa’s most ubiquitous transport modes, Kenya has officially endorsed a digital payment framework that integrates the informal tuk-tuk sector into the global tourism economy. The launch of TouristTap, a fintech solution developed by Craft Silicon in partnership with KCB Bank and Visamarks, in April 2026 represents a structural shift where the humble tuk-tuk is no longer just a vehicle for movement, but a critical node in Kenya’s digital economic infrastructure.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano formally approved the platform during the ‘Tap into Kenya’ event in Nairobi, describing it as a transformative solution for an industry that generates roughly KSh 500 billion annually. While high-end lodges and airlines have long been part of the global digital grid, the ‘informal’ end of the value chain—drivers, market traders, and coastal artisans—has historically been invisible to international payment systems. This gap has resulted in significant revenue leakage and restricted the economic mobility of over 250,000 registered tuk-tuk operators who form the backbone of urban and coastal transit.
The technology behind this shift is elegantly simple yet systemically profound. Using Near Field Communication (NFC) and ‘PIN-on-Glass’ technology, TouristTap allows any smartphone to function as a point-of-sale terminal. For an international visitor, the experience is frictionless: they download the app, enter a driver’s mobile number or till code and tap their Visa or Mastercard directly against the phone. For the operator, it eliminates the need for expensive hardware or conventional bank accounts, as funds settle directly into existing mobile money wallets like M-Pesa.
Craft Silicon Group CEO Kamal Budhabhatti framed the ambition as a matter of equity, noting that the origin of the platform was rooted in observing the friction tourists face when trying to spend at Maasai markets or on local transport. By removing the ‘cash hurdle’, the platform ensures that grassroots entrepreneurs, the ‘vibandas’ and the tuk-tuks capture their fair share of the tourism dollar. This is not merely about convenience; it is about creating a digital trail that allows previously unbanked operators to build the credit history necessary for formal financing and fleet expansion.
This digitisation coincides with a broader push toward e-mobility within the sector. As operators face rising fuel costs, the transition to electric tuk-tuks is already demonstrating a 30–40% reduction in total cost of ownership. When paired with digital fare collection, these vehicles evolve from simple taxis into sophisticated, data-driven assets. The Government’s National E-Mobility Policy and the expansion of charging networks by players like Roam and Spiro suggest that the future of Kenyan mobility is not just cashless, but increasingly carbon-neutral.
The implications for the ‘bottom-up’ economic transformation are substantial. By channelling informal transport revenue through digital rails, Kenya is improving revenue transparency and financial inclusion for a demographic that has traditionally operated on the fringes of the formal economy. As TouristTap begins its pilot programmes in Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia, the Kenyan model offers a replicable blueprint for how African cities can formalise informal mobility without destroying the agility that makes it work.
Ultimately, the digital transformation of the tuk-tuk represents the maturing of the African mobility ecosystem. We are moving past the phase of ‘disruptive’ apps and into an era of integrated infrastructure. When a driver in Diani or a commuter in Nairobi can accept a global payment as easily as a five-star hotel, the distinction between ‘informal’ and ‘formal’ begins to vanish. In its place is a more inclusive, traceable and efficient economy that treats every passenger and every kilometre as a measurable contribution to national growth.
