Central Bank of Kenya./FILE
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has announced a planned system upgrade that will temporarily affect the processing of payments later this week.
This means that businesses and contractors whose payment will not have been cleared by midday on Friday 22, will have to wait for three days.
The closure will temporarily affect the processing of Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) payments for the entire period.
In a notice to customers, CBK said the upgrade will take place on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 1:30 PM, during which real time payment services will be unavailable.
To avoid disruptions, the apex bank is advising customers to complete their RTGS transactions by 12:30 PM on the same day.
“Dear Customer, the Central Bank of Kenya will upgrade its systems on Friday, August 22, 2025 at 1:30 PM, impacting RTGS payment processing. Please ensure all RTGS payments are made by 12:30 PM on that date. Normal services will resume on Monday, August 25, 2025,” read the communication from CBK.
RTGS is a critical payment platform that enables banks and financial institutions to transfer large sums of money in real time.
It is widely used for high-value transactions, including business payments, interbank settlements, and corporate transfers.
Temporary suspension of the service means that businesses and individuals planning to make large payments or settlements will need to plan ahead to avoid delays.
The upgrade come just over a month after CBK extended the operating hours from July 1st, 2025.
The extension improved flexibility for banks, businesses, and government agencies, signaling CBK intention to inch closer to enabling real-time settlement across longer windows, a key requirement if Kenya wants to transition to a true 24/7 digital economy.
