6th Africa Forum, Kampala, Uganda

Inclusive Mobile Financial Services for Visually Impaired People in Kenya

M, Kieti, Perkins International, Kenya

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This study was conducted in 2013 as a joint intention of the Perkins School for the Blind and the United States Agency for International Development to respond to the need to expand the ability of people who are blind or visually impaired to access and utilize mobile financial services (MFS) in Kenya. The study sought to identify barriers faced by blind and visually impaired users to fuller utilization of mobile-enabled money transfer technologies, focusing on mobile phone-based products and services; design appropriate intervention/modifications; determine if , and how, barriers can be reduced or eliminated; raise awareness among service providers and development practitioners of the unique needs/barriers of visually impaired end-users into their product design and marketing and among regulators of the need to develop appropriate regulatory guidance and supervisory capacity to ensure ‘Know Your Customer’ compliance and asset protection oversight. This paper highlights findings and recommendations of the study.