To start an online shop in Kenya: choose a platform (Shopify or WooCommerce), set up a domain, add your products, configure a payment gateway that accepts M-Pesa, set up delivery options, and share your shop link. The process takes a weekend for a basic setup. The most important decision is your payment gateway. It must support M-Pesa STK Push for Kenyan buyers.
Step 1: Choose Your E-commerce Platform
Two platforms dominate for Kenyan online shops: Shopify and WooCommerce.
Shopify is a hosted platform. You pay a monthly subscription and do not manage hosting. It is easier to set up and maintain. Plans start at USD 29/month. It suits you if you want to get selling quickly and are not managing an existing WordPress site.
WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress that runs on your own hosting. It is more work to set up but more flexible and often more cost-effective if you already have a WordPress site. Your ongoing costs are hosting (from KES 1,000/month) and transaction fees.
If you already sell from a physical shop and want to add an online channel while keeping one inventory, consider using WebpinnPOS for your in-store operations alongside either platform. It syncs stock with both Shopify and WooCommerce.
Step 2: Register a Domain
A .co.ke domain signals to Kenyan customers that you are a local business. Register one through Kenyan registrars such as Kenya Web Experts, Sasahost, or Truehost. A .co.ke domain costs approximately KES 1,200–1,800 per year. A .com domain is available internationally through registrars like Namecheap.
Step 3: Set Up Your Payment Gateway
This is the most important step for a Kenyan online shop. Your gateway must support M-Pesa STK Push: where the customer enters their phone number at checkout and receives a payment prompt on their Safaricom line.
Gateways that work in Kenya include Pesapal, IntaSend, and DPO Pay. Create a merchant account with your chosen provider, complete their KYC verification, and install their plugin or integration in your platform. Test with a sandbox purchase before going live.
Step 4: Add Your Products
Write clear product titles and descriptions. Include at least two to three photos per product: front, back, and detail views. Set your price in KES. Enable inventory tracking so the system knows when to mark a product as out of stock. If your products come in different sizes or colours, set up variants.
Step 5: Configure Delivery Options
Decide your delivery areas and costs before you launch. Common approaches:
- Nairobi delivery: Partner with a motorbike courier service (Sendy, Fargo, or a local service). Charge a flat fee or include free delivery above a minimum order value.
- National delivery: Use courier companies (G4S, Fargo) or bus parcels for upcountry. Set a delivery fee based on destination.
- Click-and-collect: If you have a physical shop, offer customers the option to order online and pick up in-store: useful for local customers who prefer to inspect before completing payment.
Step 6: Launch and Get Your First Customers
Share your shop link widely when you launch. WhatsApp Status, Instagram, Facebook, and your personal contacts are your first audience. Ask people to share your link. For paid marketing, Instagram and Facebook ads targeted by location (Nairobi, or specific towns) and interests are cost-effective at small budgets.
Create a Google My Business listing with your shop link and product categories. Many Kenyans search Google before buying online: a verified listing improves your visibility in local search results.