The verdict in three sentences
In Nairobi, a private clinic can deploy custom software for 10-25 M FCFA (about 16,000-40,000 EUR), or start on SaaS at 50,000-150,000 FCFA/month to smooth the investment. Two local requirements make the difference: mobile-money collection (M-Pesa-style wallets) directly at the till, and an offline mode that keeps the cashier and records running through network outages. The return comes from ending cash leakage and finally tracking the pharmacy.
Modules and budget for a connected clinic
The core need holds in three blocks: the patient record, the cashier (with mobile money) and pharmacy/stock. Staff training is included because it drives adoption.
| Module | Custom (FCFA) | Monthly SaaS (FCFA) | Local stake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient record & consultations | 3,000,000-6,000,000 | included | History, prescriptions |
| Cashier & collection | 2,500,000-5,000,000 | included | Mobile money + cash |
| Pharmacy & stock | 2,000,000-4,500,000 | +20,000/mo | Expiry, stock alerts |
| Bookings & diary | 1,500,000-3,000,000 | included | SMS reminders |
| Offline mode & sync | 1,500,000-4,000,000 | add-on | Network outages |
| Management dashboards | 1,000,000-2,500,000 | +15,000/mo | Revenue, occupancy |
A full custom project runs 4-7 months, staff training included. SaaS starts within weeks but offers less flexibility on specific pathways.
Mobile money and offline: the two non-negotiables
A Nairobi clinic collects a growing share of payments via mobile wallets. Integrating them at the till removes re-keying and secures reconciliation. Offline mode guarantees service continuity.
| Constraint | Untreated | With adapted handling |
|---|---|---|
| Patient payment | Cash + re-keying | Wallet collected at till |
| Internet outage | Cashier blocked | Offline mode, sync on return |
| Revenue reconciliation | Manual, frequent gaps | Automatic per transaction |
| Mobile-money fees | 1.0-1.5% by operator | Tracked in reporting |
| Cash leakage | 3-8% of revenue (est.) | Traceability per operator |
For a clinic collecting 40,000,000 FCFA/month, cutting leakage from 5% to 1% recovers 1,600,000 FCFA/month — far more than a year of software cost.
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Mini case study
Dr Kouassi runs a private clinic collecting 35,000,000 FCFA/month, a large share in poorly tracked cash. He estimates leakage at 6%, or 2,100,000 FCFA/month.
With a wallet-integrated till and a tracked pharmacy, he cuts leakage to 1.5%, recovering 1,575,000 FCFA/month (18,900,000 FCFA/year). His 16,000,000 FCFA custom software pays back in about 10 months, before counting reduced pharmacy expiry losses and admin time saved.
FAQ
What does clinic software cost in Nairobi in 2026? From 10-25 M FCFA custom depending on modules, or 50,000-150,000 FCFA/month SaaS. Offline mode and mobile-money integration may be add-ons.
Is mobile money integrated at the till? Yes; it is an expected standard: wallets collected directly at the cashier with automatic reconciliation. Operator fees (1.0-1.5%) are tracked in reporting.
What happens during an internet outage? A well-built offline mode keeps the cashier and records running locally, then syncs automatically when the network returns. It is essential here.
Is staff training included? In a serious custom project, yes: training drives adoption and must cover cashier, records and pharmacy, over several on-site sessions.
SaaS or custom to start? SaaS smooths the budget and is fast; custom becomes right as soon as pathways leave the standard or volume makes subscriptions costlier long term.
Let's scope your project. Share your collection volume, payment methods and network constraints, and we will price a cashier + records + pharmacy solution in FCFA with offline mode. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
