Regulatory & Compliance
Zeni is committed to building responsible financial technology. This page outlines our regulatory positioning, operational boundaries, and approach to compliance.
Regulatory Positioning
Zeni is a financial technology company that provides software infrastructure for group-based savings and financial coordination. Zeni is not a bank, not a deposit-taking institution, and not a licensed payment service provider.
The platform does not offer financial products, provide credit, or act as a financial intermediary. Instead, Zeni enables groups to organise, track, and coordinate contributions using digital tools, while all monetary transactions are processed by licensed third-party providers.
Funds Flow & Custody
Zeni does not directly hold, custody, or control user funds at any point. All monetary transactions are initiated and settled through licensed payment service providers (PSPs).
- Contributions are processed via regulated PSPs such as PayHero, Bitlipa, Paystack, or equivalent providers.
- Mobile money payments (e.g. M-Pesa via Daraja) settle directly into designated trust or collection accounts.
- Zeni does not maintain internal monetary balances or wallets representing stored value.
- Platform fees, where applicable, are separated and transferred to Zeni’s operating account in accordance with agreed schedules.
This structure ensures clear segregation of user funds from operational finances and reduces custodial and regulatory risk.
Compliance Principles
Zeni is developed with regulatory readiness and operational discipline as core design principles. While not directly regulated, the platform aligns with best practices commonly expected by regulators and financial partners.
- Clear audit trails for contributions and group activity
- Role-based access controls for group administrators
- Transparent contribution records and reporting
- Separation of operational and user-related financial flows
- Data minimisation and secure handling of user information
Regulatory Roadmap
As Zeni evolves, regulatory engagement will scale in line with product scope, transaction volumes, and operational complexity.
This includes ongoing collaboration with licensed payment service providers, banking partners, and professional advisors to ensure the platform remains compliant with applicable laws and regulations in Kenya and other markets of operation.
Any future transition into regulated financial activities will be preceded by appropriate licensing, approvals, and structural changes in line with guidance from relevant authorities, including the Central Bank of Kenya.