The verdict in three sentences
In Kenya, building an online store runs from 90,000 KES (Starter) to 500,000 KES (Premium), but the decisive figure is the total first-year cost. With M-Pesa STK Push native checkout, payment fees sit around 1.5 % and delivery weighs heavily, especially across Nairobi and up-country. A merchant who only budgets the build underestimates real cost by 30 to 50 %.
Total first-year cost (Nairobi)
The strength of a Kenyan store is frictionless M-Pesa checkout. Here is the 2026 estimate of full first-year cost for an active Growth store.
| Item | 2026 cost | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Growth development | 180,000 - 280,000 KES | One-off |
| Hosting + domain | 45,000 - 80,000 KES | Year 1 |
| M-Pesa fees | ~1.5 % of revenue | Per order |
| Maintenance | 55,000 - 160,000 KES | Year 1 |
| Subsidised delivery | Variable | Per order |
With 600 orders over the year at a 2,600 KES basket, revenue reaches 1,560,000 KES and M-Pesa fees alone are roughly 23,000 KES. Modest against volume, but plan it from the start.
Delivery: the line that makes or breaks margin
Nairobi's boda boda network keeps intra-city delivery cheap; up-country changes the math. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Route | 2026 cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Intra-Nairobi boda | 150 - 350 KES | Same day |
| Nairobi metro courier | 250 - 500 KES | Same/next day |
| To Mombasa / Kisumu | 400 - 900 KES | 1-2 days |
| To secondary town | 500 - 1,200 KES | 2-4 days |
| Pickup point | 100 - 250 KES | Next day |
Francophone counterpart (Cameroon): for a merchant in Douala the store is priced in FCFA with native MTN MoMo + Orange Money. A Starter runs around 1,000,000 FCFA, MoMo fees near 1.5-2 %, and Douala delivery at 1,000-2,000 FCFA. One architecture serves both markets.
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Mini case study
Wanjiru, who runs a womenswear store in Kilimani (Nairobi), picks a Growth at 220,000 KES. She ships 55 orders in month one, average basket 2,900 KES, or 159,500 KES. M-Pesa fees at 1.5 %: 2,390 KES. Partially subsidised delivery: 6,000 KES. With a 32 % product margin she keeps about 43,000 KES net monthly. The store pays back in roughly eight months.
FAQ
What does an online store in Nairobi cost in 2026? Development runs from 90,000 KES (Starter, 50 products) to 500,000 KES (Premium). Add year-one hosting and maintenance for a realistic budget.
How much does M-Pesa cost per transaction? Budget an order of magnitude of 1.5 % of the amount collected depending on the aggregator. On a 2,600 KES basket that is around 40 KES.
Is up-country delivery profitable? It costs 400 to 1,200 KES per parcel. It works if you bill the customer or if your average basket clears 2,000 KES with a healthy margin.
What about selling in Douala too? We add native MTN MoMo + Orange Money and local delivery, priced in FCFA. The same architecture serves Kenya and Cameroon.
What total budget for year one? For an active Growth store, budget development plus 100,000 to 240,000 KES of ancillary costs (hosting, maintenance, payment fees) over twelve months.
Let's talk about your project. We give you a costed first-year total for Nairobi, Douala or Yaounde. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.