FAQ and glossary
Short answers to common questions, and the terms these docs use.
Frequently asked
Do I need a Kenyan company?
No. Businesses registered elsewhere can apply for live access; we'll ask for your registration and owners like anyone else.
How fast do payouts arrive?
Mobile money usually within a minute. Till and PayBill similar. Bank transfers depend on the bank, from minutes to the next business day.
What currency do I hold?
USDC (and USDT) on the Avalanche C-Chain. Payouts convert to KES at a rate locked when you create them.
Can I pay outside Kenya?
Not yet. Destinations are Kenyan today; countries appear in limits.countries as we add them.
Can I collect money (on-ramp) through the API?
Not yet through API keys. The scopes are reserved; you can top up your balance from M-Pesa in the AutoPayKe app meanwhile.
Is there a batch endpoint?
Not yet. Send one payout per person from a queue with its own Idempotency-Key; see Payouts.
Why is my live key not working?
New live keys need our approval (KEY_PENDING_APPROVAL). Also check the IP allowlist (IP_NOT_ALLOWED) and scopes (INSUFFICIENT_SCOPE).
Can I cancel a payout?
No. Once accepted it's sent straight away. If it fails, the money returns automatically.
How long are logs kept?
Request logs in the Console: 30 days. Events: available through GET /api/v1/events.
Is there a separate sandbox URL?
No. Use https://api.autopayke.com for both; the key's prefix picks the environment.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Workspace | Your developer account, tied to one AutoPayKe account. |
| Console | console.autopayke.com, where you manage keys, webhooks, logs and live access. |
| Scope / capability | A permission like payouts:write. Keys carry scopes; workspaces are approved for capabilities. |
| Idempotency-Key | A header that makes a retry return the first result instead of acting twice. |
| Event | A record that something happened (payout.succeeded), with the object at that moment. |
| Webhook endpoint | Your URL that receives events, signed with its own secret. |
| USDC | A stablecoin worth one US dollar, issued by Circle. Your balance is held in it. |
| Avalanche C-Chain | The blockchain your USDC balance lives on. |
| Till / Buy Goods | An M-Pesa merchant number shops use to get paid. |
| PayBill | An M-Pesa business number with an account number, used for bills and invoices. |
| KES cents | Hundredths of a shilling. Payout amounts use them: 150000 = KES 1,500. |