Kenyan travel-booking startup BuuPass is integrating cross-border payments through a partnership with Nairobi-based digital wallet SafariBucks, as the company deepens its push beyond consumer ticketing into corporate and regional travel.
The deal will allow travellers to pay for BuuPass buses, flights and transfers using SafariBucks, with transactions settled through local payment rails. SafariBucks’ Spend Management product will also connect with Gavanpass, BuuPass’s corporate travel platform, enabling companies to fund employee travel and handle tax reporting across multiple currencies.
BuuPass co-founder and CEO Sonia Kabra described the partnership as closing the payment gap in travel without requiring travellers or businesses to change how they already pay.
BuuPass has spent years digitising bus, train and flight bookings across East Africa and beyond, processing tens of millions of tickets and integrating with local payment methods such as M-Pesa. The company has also expanded its operator network and launched Gavanpass earlier in 2026 to serve enterprises managing business travel, including approvals, policy controls and spend tracking.
Cross-border travel in the region often involves multiple currencies and fragmented payment options, creating friction for both individual travellers and corporate finance teams. By linking SafariBucks’ wallet and spend tools to its booking platforms, BuuPass aims to reduce that complexity while supporting its growth in multi-country corporate accounts.
The partnership arrives as BuuPass continues to position itself as a broader mobility and travel infrastructure provider rather than a pure ticketing marketplace. Success will depend on adoption by both consumers already using SafariBucks and the corporate clients onboarding to Gavanpass.
