E-Commerce in Kenya is Booming
Kenyan online shopping is growing at over 30% annually. From clothing in Gikomba to electronics in Nairobi CBD, businesses that sell online are reaching customers across all 47 counties — without the cost of a physical shop in every location.
What You Need to Start an Online Shop in Kenya
- A domain name (e.g. myshop.co.ke)
- Web hosting (WooCommerce needs decent resources)
- WordPress + WooCommerce (both free)
- M-Pesa payment gateway plugin
- Your product photos and descriptions
Why WooCommerce is the Best Choice for Kenya
WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that turns any website into a fully-featured online shop. It supports Kenyan shillings (KES), M-Pesa payments via plugins like WooCommerce M-Pesa by Safaricom or third-party gateways, and local shipping options.
Step-by-Step: Set Up Your WooCommerce Shop
- Get hosting at Hostiko (at least our Business plan for WooCommerce)
- Install WordPress via DirectAdmin one-click installer
- Install the WooCommerce plugin from the WordPress dashboard
- Add your products with photos, prices in KES, and stock quantities
- Install an M-Pesa payment gateway plugin
- Set up shipping zones for Nairobi, rest of Kenya, and international
- Test your checkout process before going live
Tips for a Successful Kenyan Online Shop
- Accept M-Pesa — it's how most Kenyans pay online
- Display prices in KES clearly
- Include WhatsApp chat for order queries
- Offer cash on delivery for Nairobi customers
- Add customer reviews to build trust