Individual Attributes and the Adoption of Cross-Network Mobile Money Transfer Service by SMEs in Murang’a Municipality

Abstract

Kenya introduced a platform-level cross-network mobile money transfer service in the year 2018, a move that made the country join other East African countries namely Rwanda and Tanzania in operating interoperable systems. The implementation of cross-network mobile money transfer service was meant to increase access to finance by the unbanked population and reduce Safaricom M-Pesa dominance in the country. However, data shows that the adoption rate is still low in the country. This study sought to assess individual attributes affecting the adoption of cross-network mobile money transfer service by SMEs in Murang’a municipality. Specifically, the study assessed how perceived usefulness, user awareness, user attitude, and perceived ease of use influence the adoption of cross-network mobile money transfer services. Primary data was obtained through questionnaires from a sample size of 250 participants using purposeful sampling design. The analysis of data was done by the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found out that the adoption rate of crossnetwork mobile money transfer service was very low as only 36% of the respondents had adopted and used the service and the other 64% had not adopted the service mostly because of unawareness and lack of interoperability at the agent level. Based on the above findings; the study recommends that the policymakers ensure they create more awareness about the existence of the service and expand interoperability by having it at the agency level