Coinepay | How to Send Money to PesaLink in Kenya from Abroad

PesaLink is a Kenyan payments network operated by Integrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL), which is owned by the Kenya Bankers Association. It connects bank accounts, mobile money and fintech wallets inside Kenya, and transfers are made in Kenyan shillings (KES). If you want to send money from abroad to someone in Kenya, Coinepay Global Remittance lets you pay out to a Kenyan destination and have the amount delivered in local currency. This guide explains what you need from your recipient, how to set up the transfer, and what to do if something looks wrong.

Before you start: check the destination carefully

PesaLink is a Kenya-only rail, so the recipient and the receiving account or wallet must be in Kenya. One important point to understand: PesaLink menu labels such as "Send to Phone" often describe sending to a phone number that is linked to a bank account, not necessarily a standalone mobile-money wallet. The network can involve bank accounts, mobile money and fintech wallets, but the exact destination depends on how the recipient's number is registered. Because of this, confirm with your recipient whether their PesaLink-registered phone number points to a bank account or a wallet before you send.

In the Coinepay app, always select the payout method that matches where your recipient actually wants the money, and check the destination details on the confirmation screen before you approve anything. The estimated arrival time, exchange rate and fees are all shown in the app before you confirm.

What you need from your recipient

Gather these details from the person receiving the money and double-check the spelling:

Full name exactly as registered with their bank or wallet provider. PesaLink displays the recipient name during a transfer, and a mismatch is a common reason a sender hesitates or a transfer is queried.
Registered phone number or account identifier. For phone-based routes, Kenyan mobile numbers are commonly entered in the international format beginning 254 (for example, Standard Chartered's PesaLink USSD flow asks for a 2547******** beneficiary number). Confirm the exact format your route expects.
The receiving institution — the bank or wallet provider the number is registered with, so the correct beneficiary is selected.
Confirmation that the recipient is registered on PesaLink. On some bank routes, a "Send to Phone" transfer fails if the number is not registered, and "Send to Account" is offered as the alternative.

Step by step: send with Coinepay

Register and verify your identity. Create an account at Coinepay and complete KYC. You must use your real identity and real details. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
Start a new transfer. Open Global Remittance and choose Kenya as the destination and KES as the payout currency.
Choose the payout method. Select the option that routes to your recipient's PesaLink destination — a bank account deposit or a mobile wallet, matching what your recipient told you. If you are unsure which applies, ask them to confirm with their provider first.
Enter the recipient details. Type the full name exactly as registered, the phone number or account identifier, and the receiving institution. Take care with the number format.
Review the rate and fees. Coinepay shows the exchange rate, the fees and the estimated arrival time clearly before you confirm. Read the summary and check that the name and destination are correct.
Confirm. Approve the transfer. You may be asked for information such as the purpose of the transfer or source of funds — this is part of standard compliance and sanctions screening.
Track the status. Every transfer has status tracking in the app. You can follow it from your 24/7 dashboard and share the reference with your recipient.

How fast does it arrive?

Transfers can arrive in as little as 10 minutes, but the actual delivery time depends on the payout method and the destination — the estimate for your specific transfer is shown in the app before you confirm. A wallet or bank-linked payout and the time of day can both affect how quickly the money lands.

How the recipient sees the money arrive

When the payout completes, the recipient is credited at their bank or wallet and typically receives an SMS or in-app notification. PesaLink transactions appear in the recipient's bank statement or banking-app history, so they can confirm the credit there. Ask them to check the received amount and name against what you sent, and to keep the notification in case any follow-up is needed.

Recipient limits to be aware of

Limits depend on the route the money travels, and your recipient's own provider sets the rules on their side:

PesaLink states a ceiling of KES 999,999 per transaction on its network, but this can be reduced by lower security limits set by the receiving or sending bank.
For payouts that travel on mobile-money rails, Kenya's regulator caps transactions lower — around KES 250,000 per transaction with a wallet-balance limit — and some providers (for example M-PESA) apply their own daily value limits as well. So a wallet payout is not governed by PesaLink's higher bank ceiling.
A recipient whose wallet is unverified or at a lower tier may have tighter limits or be unable to receive the full amount until they upgrade their verification level with their provider.

If your recipient is close to a limit, ask them to confirm their current tier and available balance room before you send.

Troubleshooting

Wrong phone number or account

Re-check every digit before confirming. PesaLink shows the recipient name during a transfer precisely so you can catch an error — if the displayed name is not your recipient, do not proceed. If you have already sent and the status or notification looks wrong, contact Coinepay support straight away with your transaction reference and retain the record.

Name mismatch

The name must match how the recipient is registered with their institution. A mismatch can cause the receiving side to reject or hold the credit. Confirm the exact registered name and re-enter it.

Wallet limit reached

If the recipient has hit a per-transaction, daily or balance limit, the payout can be blocked on their side. They may need to wait for the limit window to reset or raise their tier with their provider.

Unverified or unregistered wallet

If the number is not registered on PesaLink or the wallet is not verified, the transfer can fail. Ask the recipient to complete registration or verification, or use a bank account deposit instead.

Compliance review

Transfers are subject to identity verification, sanctions screening and local regulations. Coinepay may request documents such as the purpose or source of funds; providing them promptly helps clear the review. Never split a transfer, use a third party or try to work around these checks.

Still unresolved

For anything you cannot resolve in the app, contact Coinepay support or reach the team on Telegram with your transfer reference. If a complaint relates to the Kenyan receiving provider, Kenya's payment rules generally allow a complaint to be filed within 15 days of the occurrence, with the provider expected to resolve it within 30 days.

Summary

To send to a PesaLink recipient in Kenya with Coinepay: confirm whether their number points to a bank account or a wallet, collect their exact registered name and number, pick the matching payout method, review the rate and fees shown in the app, confirm, and track the status to completion. Keep your records, and reach support if anything looks off. Visit Coinepay to get started.

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FAQ

What details do I need to send to a PesaLink recipient?

You need the recipient's full name exactly as registered with their bank or wallet, their PesaLink-registered phone number or account identifier (Kenyan numbers are often entered starting with 254), and the receiving institution. Confirm they are registered on PesaLink before sending.

Does PesaLink pay into a mobile wallet or a bank account?

It depends on how the recipient's number is registered. PesaLink labels like "Send to Phone" often route to a bank account linked to that number rather than a standalone wallet. Ask your recipient to confirm their destination, and choose the matching payout method in the Coinepay app.

How fast will the money reach Kenya?

Transfers can arrive in as little as 10 minutes, but the actual time depends on the payout method and destination. Coinepay shows the estimated arrival time, exchange rate and fees before you confirm.

What happens if the recipient's name doesn't match?

A name that doesn't match the registered account can cause the credit to be rejected or held. PesaLink displays the recipient name during a transfer so you can verify it. Re-check the exact registered name before confirming, and contact Coinepay support if a transfer looks wrong.

Why might my transfer be held for review?

All transfers are subject to identity verification, sanctions screening and local regulations. Coinepay may ask for documents such as the purpose or source of funds. Providing these promptly helps clear the review; never split transfers or use third parties to avoid checks.

How to Send Money to PesaLink in Kenya from Abroad