We describe a dataset of account information and transaction records for a digital community currency in Kenya. One unit of “Sarafu” is roughly equivalent in value to a Kenyan shilling. The Sarafu system has existed since 2010 and began operating digitally via USSD feature-code cellular technology in 2017. This dataset includes pseudonymized account information for around 55,000 users and records of all Sarafu transactions conducted from 25/01/2020 to 15/06/2021. User transactions capture various economic and financial activities such as purchases, transfers, and participation in savings and lending groups. So-called "chamas" are key to the operation of the Sarafu system and clearly labeled in the data. This dataset will contribute to research on the operation of community currencies, monetary systems, and economic networks in underdeveloped areas. The observation period includes the first year of the coronavirus pandemic and several documented pilot projects and development interventions.

Information about account holders and digital transaction records are collected by Grassroots Economics, a Kenyan nonprofit, in the routine administration of the Sarafu system. Users interact with the community currency over a USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) interface, secure behind a personal authentication code. The core functionalities are creating an account, updating account information, checking a balance, and making Sarafu transactions to other accounts. These are accessible via feature-code menus from most mobile phones over regular cellular service. During the observation period, from 25/01/2020 to 15/06/2021, a PostgreSQL database as well as xDAI blockchain recorded activity generated via four administrative processes: account creation, routine transactions, algorithmic currency management, and ad-hoc administrative tasks.