Emirates, Cellulant revolutionize travel payments for Kenyan customers via split-payment solution 

KENYA- Emirates in collaboration with Cellulant has unveiled an innovative split-payment solution in Kenya, significantly enhancing travel accessibility to its customers. 

This initiative, developed in collaboration with Cellulant, aims to tackle the financial challenges faced by many in Africa’s mobile-first economy.  

Powered by Cellulant’s Tingg payment gateway, the new feature allows travelers to book flights on the Emirates website using a combination of mobile money, mobile banking, and local cards.  

This flexibility is crucial in a region where daily transaction limits often hinder high-value purchases like international flights. 

Customers can also pay for up to five instalments within 24 hours, making high-value purchases like international airfare more manageable and alleviating financial pressure. 

Michael Muriuki, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Cellulant, highlighted the solution’s importance: “With hundreds of millions of Africans relying on mobile money as their preferred payment method, extending this convenience to global travel payments is essential. Through Tingg, we enable Emirates customers to complete high-value transactions seamlessly, without transaction limits becoming a barrier.” 

 Christophe Leloup, Emirates’ Country Manager for Kenya, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Kenya is one of the most dynamic markets in our global network. By introducing split payments through Tingg, we unlock greater flexibility and convenience, allowing more customers to access our world-class products and services.” 

This launch is timely, coinciding with Emirates’ addition of a third daily flight from Dubai to Nairobi starting March 1, 2026.  

This expansion aims to meet the rising demand for travel while providing customers with flexible, locally relevant payment options. The split payment solution not only simplifies the booking process but also encourages a broader demographic to engage in international travel, making global exploration more accessible for Kenyans. 

As the travel landscape evolves, Emirates is committed to innovation, ensuring that more Kenyans can embark on international journeys with ease and confidence.  

Kenya is well known for its ever-improving mobile money innovations with platforms like Mpesa serving most of the Kenyans. Additionally, with this advancement, the future of travel payments in Africa looks brighter than ever, paving the way for a more inclusive travel experience. 

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