Lipana is a Kenyan money infrastructure platform that provides businesses with integrated tools for M-PESA payments, point-of-sale operations, and KRA-compliant payroll management. Built and operated from Nairobi, it serves over 2,500 merchants across all 47 counties in Kenya. The platform processes approximately KES 4.5 million in transactions daily through its three product lines.
How It Works
Opening a Lipana account is free and takes approximately 30 seconds. The company handles M-PESA paybill registration on behalf of merchants on the same day. Businesses can activate Payments, POS, or Payroll independently, starting with one tool and adding others as they grow. Sandbox testing is available before going live with real transactions. Bank settlement starts on the same day and charges apply only when money moves.
Products
Lipana Payments
Lipana Payments is a payment processing API for M-PESA with software development kits for Node.js, Python, and Go. It supports REST API integration, webhook notifications for transaction events, and automatic nightly settlement to the merchant bank account. Businesses can accept customer payments via STK push through their existing applications. Developers can move from sandbox to live production in approximately three minutes.
Lipana POS
Lipana POS is a point-of-sale system designed to operate reliably during network outages. Merchants photograph their shelves to generate a priced inventory catalogue. The system tracks stock levels, identifies demand patterns such as items that sell out on specific days, settles to M-PESA nightly, and generates receipts. End-of-day reconciliation is automated so business owners do not need to manually tally sales. The system works through network drops that are common in many areas across Kenya.
Lipana Payroll
Lipana Payroll manages PAYE, NHIF, NSSF, and SHIF contributions according to the current KRA schedule and auto-files them to iTax. Employers spend less time on compliance because the system calculates deductions automatically and submits them to the Kenya Revenue Authority. Staff can be paid by M-PESA or bank transfer in a single click, eliminating manual spreadsheet-based payroll processing that previously took an entire afternoon for some businesses.
Key Capabilities
- M-PESA payment processing with modern REST API and developer SDKs for Node.js, Python, and Go
- Offline-capable point-of-sale with photo-based catalogue creation and automated inventory tracking
- Automated KRA-compliant payroll with PAYE, NHIF, NSSF, and SHIF deduction filing
- Nightly bank settlement for all payment transactions
- Free account with no setup fees or monthly minimums
- Support available in Kiswahili and English
Intended Users
Lipana serves retail shops (dukas), restaurants, boutiques, service businesses, and growing teams across Kenya. Its tools are designed for businesses that need reliable payment processing, inventory management, and payroll filing without requiring extensive technical infrastructure or dedicated accounting staff. The platform serves both individual merchants and larger operations across urban and rural areas in all 47 Kenyan counties.
