Everything you need to sell products online in Kenya — which platforms to use, how to accept M-Pesa payments, how to handle delivery, and how to get your first online sale. No physical shop required.
Trusted by 500+ Kenyan online sellers using Ubossify to dropship and sell without holding stock.
Kenya's ecommerce market is growing at 25% per year — faster than most African markets. Over 60% of Kenyans now own smartphones. M-Pesa makes it possible for anyone with a phone to buy online instantly. And yet, online retail in Kenya is still massively underpenetrated compared to South Africa or Egypt.
That means the opportunity is now. Most product categories in Kenya still have minimal serious online competition. A well-run Shopify store selling quality products with M-Pesa checkout can dominate a niche before the market saturates.
Unlike a physical shop — no rent, no staff, no stock investment, no fixed location. You can run an online selling business in Kenya entirely from your phone, earn while you sleep, and scale without the overhead of a traditional business.
There are many ways to sell online in Kenya. Here's how they compare so you can pick the right one for your situation.
KES 3,500/mo
Best for serious sellers
Free to list + commission
Good for side income
Free
Good for starting out
Free
Good supplement, not standalone
Most successful Kenyan online sellers combine a Shopify store (primary) + Instagram/TikTok (traffic) + WhatsApp (customer retention).
Whether you have products already or want to start with zero stock using dropshipping — follow these steps to your first online sale in Kenya.
Choose products that are in demand in Kenya and that you can source reliably. If you don't have stock, dropshipping lets you sell products from verified Kenyan suppliers without buying anything upfront.
Create a Shopify store — it's the most trusted ecommerce platform in Kenya. Choose a mobile-first theme (70%+ of Kenyan buyers shop on their phones), add your logo, and configure KES pricing.
Upload product photos, write clear descriptions, and set your prices. If you're dropshipping with Ubossify, push products from the catalog to your store in one click — photos, descriptions, and variants come pre-loaded.
Configure M-Pesa STK push at your Shopify checkout. This is non-negotiable in Kenya — 80%+ of online buyers pay via M-Pesa. Also enable Visa/Mastercard for the remaining 20%.
Set shipping rates for different regions. Nairobi same-day or next-day delivery is a strong selling point. Upcountry rates should be clear and upfront — hidden shipping costs are the #1 reason for abandoned carts.
Drive traffic through Facebook and Instagram ads targeting Kenyans, TikTok content, WhatsApp broadcasts to your contacts, and Google search ads. Start organic before spending on ads.
When orders come in, fulfill them promptly. With Ubossify dropshipping, fulfillment is automatic — you just monitor and handle customer service. Profits land in your M-Pesa wallet automatically.
Based on Ubossify order data, Jumia Kenya traffic, and M-Pesa transaction trends.
Phone cases, chargers, earbuds, smart watches, laptops
Dresses, t-shirts, shoes, handbags, jewellery
Cookware, blenders, storage, bedding, décor
Moisturisers, hair care, make-up, perfumes
Clothes, toys, feeding sets, strollers
Resistance bands, yoga mats, supplements, scales
Desks, chairs, printers, notebooks, organisers
Car mats, phone holders, LED lights, air fresheners
Setting up the right payment methods is critical. Miss M-Pesa and you lose 80% of potential buyers.
80% of Kenyan buyers
How: Customer enters phone number → receives prompt → enters PIN
Setup: Via Ubossify + Shopify integration
15% of Kenyan buyers
How: Standard card checkout, processed securely
Setup: Via Shopify Payments or Flutterwave
5% of Kenyan buyers
How: Customer transfers directly to your bank
Setup: Manual — only for high-value orders
Important: If your Shopify store doesn't offer M-Pesa at checkout, you're losing the majority of potential Kenyan buyers. Ubossify's Shopify integration includes M-Pesa STK push out of the box — no extra configuration needed.
Dropshipping lets you sell 1,000+ products online in Kenya without buying a single item upfront. When a customer orders, the supplier ships directly to them. You keep the profit margin. Ubossify connects your Shopify store to 100+ verified Kenyan suppliers and automates the entire process.
The questions Kenyans ask most before starting their online selling journey.