E-commerce Website Development in Kenya

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Kenyan shoppers want to pay with M-Pesa, see the delivery fee before checkout and trust that the shop is real. A store that asks for card details only, hides delivery costs until the last step or takes eight seconds to open on mobile data loses the sale. We build online stores around how Kenyans actually buy.

How M-Pesa checkout works on your store

We integrate Safaricom’s Daraja API so customers pay with STK Push (also called Lipa na M-Pesa Online). The customer enters their phone number at checkout, receives a prompt on their phone, enters their PIN and your store is notified automatically so the order is confirmed without you checking SMS messages.

• You need a registered Safaricom Paybill or Till number. STK Push works with either.
• We register your app on the Daraja developer portal, build and test in the sandbox, then apply to go live.
• Safaricom reviews your business details and integration before approving production access. That review is outside our control, so we start the application early and build it into your schedule.
• Payment confirmations use a secure (HTTPS) callback address, and we handle the “payment still processing” cases that cause duplicate or lost orders.
• Safaricom’s own transaction charges on money you receive are separate from our build fee.

Payment options we set up

Method	Best for	Notes
M-Pesa STK Push	Most Kenyan customers	Direct Daraja integration to your Paybill or Till
Card payments	Diaspora, corporate and higher-value orders	Through a payment gateway such as Pesapal or Flutterwave
Pay on delivery	First-time buyers who are not yet confident	Can be limited by area or order value to reduce risk
WhatsApp order button	Products that need a conversation first	Sends the cart or product to your WhatsApp number

WooCommerce or Shopify?

Choose WooCommerce when	Choose Shopify when
You want full control of the site, direct M-Pesa integration and the lowest monthly platform cost	You want a managed platform, fast setup and less technical upkeep
You have many product variations, custom delivery rules or a blog that matters for SEO	You sell a focused catalogue and plan to sell on social media channels too
Your store sits alongside a content-rich business site on WordPress	You are comfortable with Shopify’s monthly fee and app costs

We tell you which fits your products and budget, even when it is the cheaper option for us. Whichever you choose, we use the same SEO-first structure described on our e-commerce SEO page.

Details that make a Kenyan store convert

• Delivery fees by zone, for example Nairobi CBD, Nairobi estates and upcountry, shown before checkout.
• Order confirmation by email and WhatsApp so customers know the payment went through.
• Phone number fields that accept 07XX, 01XX and +254 formats.
• Clear returns, delivery and privacy pages. Your privacy page should reflect the customer data you collect under the Data Protection Act, 2019.
• If your business issues tax invoices, we plan the checkout and order emails with KRA eTIMS requirements in mind. Confirm the exact rules for your business with KRA or your accountant.
• Product photography that shows detail on a small screen. Our photography service can shoot your catalogue.

Running costs to plan for

The build is a one-off cost. Hosting, domain renewal, payment fees, product photography and ongoing updates recur. We list these in the quote so you can see the real cost of running the store, and our maintenance and hosting plans keep it secure and backed up.

Questions? Call 0715 821 897, WhatsApp us or request a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Paybill or a Till number?

Yes, you need one of the two registered with Safaricom. Both work with STK Push. If you do not have one yet, we can tell you which suits your business and what Safaricom will ask for.

Can customers pay by card as well?

Yes. We connect a card gateway such as Pesapal or Flutterwave alongside M-Pesa, so diaspora and corporate buyers can pay too.

How many products can the store handle?

Both WooCommerce and Shopify handle thousands of products. We plan the category structure around how people search, not only how your stock is organised internally.

Can you move my existing shop to a new platform without losing Google traffic?

Yes. We map every old URL to its new one with 301 redirects. Read more on our website redesign page.

Ready to talk? Tell us what you sell and roughly how many products you have. We will recommend WooCommerce or Shopify and send a fixed KES quote. Call: 0715 821 897    WhatsApp: Chat with us now Email: info@g-lab.co.ke    Quote: Request a free quote

Related services

• E-commerce SEO
• Website maintenance & hosting
• Photography for products
• Social media management to drive traffic
• Custom web apps & portals
• Landing pages for campaigns

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