When 34-year-old entrepreneur Janet Wanjiru started selling handmade skincare products online, she believed that marketing would be her biggest challenge.
She invested time in social media campaigns, built a loyal following on WhatsApp, and consistently posted product testimonials on Instagram.
But despite the steady engagement, one problem kept slowing her down: payment.
“Some customers preferred using their cards. I realised I was losing buyers simply because I couldn’t offer a convenient way to pay online,” she recalls.
That changed when she discovered Chapa Pay, an e-commerce solution designed to help merchants accept online card payments even without a website.
“I didn’t think it was possible for a small business like mine,” she says. “I assumed online card payments were only for big companies with websites and IT teams.”
Chapa Pay, designed by the Co-operative Bank of Kenya, allows merchants to receive online card payments directly into their accounts.
It is designed for modern businesses that promote goods and services through websites, social media platforms, WhatsApp, and other digital channels.
For Janet, the turning point was the Pay-By-Link option, a feature built specifically for merchants who do not own websites.
How Pay-By-Link Works
The process, she explains, is straightforward and fits naturally into how many businesses already operate online.
Once a merchant is onboarded, they receive a unique payment link which acts as an invoice tool. After agreeing on the pricing with the customer, the merchant sends the payment link to the customer’s email address.
The customer then receives an invoice and clicks the link, which opens a secure portal where they input their card details and the amount to be paid. Once the payment is successful, the merchant receives confirmation via email and SMS.
The customer also receives an SMS notification if they have subscribed to SMS alerts with their card provider.
“It feels professional,” Janet says.
One of the biggest selling points of the Pay-By-Link option is its accessibility. According to merchants already using it, onboarding comes at no cost.
“It’s free to get onboarded,” Janet notes. “For a small business, that matters. Most platforms charge setup fees or monthly subscriptions. With this, I could start immediately.”
She adds that the simplicity has helped her respond quickly to customers, especially those who want instant delivery arrangements.
Beyond convenience, Chapa Pay is also built with security in mind. The platform uses 3D Secure technology, supported by two-factor authentication, giving customers confidence when making card payments.
This security has also helped merchants reduce exposure to fraud.
“The customer cannot reverse the payment,” she says. “That reduces the risk of losing money to dubious characters.”
Janet says the platform offers a level of independence that many merchants rarely enjoy with other payment methods. In cases where a customer makes a wrong payment, merchants can reverse the payment themselves without calling the bank.
For business owners who handle multiple transactions daily, reconciliation can become a headache. Chapa Pay addresses this by enabling merchants to track payments and view transaction records through a single dashboard.
“It’s organised,” Janet says. “You can see who paid, when they paid, and how much. It has helped me keep proper records and plan better.
With online shopping habits steadily growing, more businesses are shifting to digital selling but many still lack structured payment systems.
Janet believes Chapa Pay is helping bridge that gap.
“Once I started accepting card payments, I noticed an increase in completed orders. Some customers were ready to buy but needed a payment option they trusted. Now I can confidently sell beyond my usual circles,” she concludes.
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