( The Ken Designers journal )
Articles.
Straight answers on building and selling online in Kenya: websites, M-Pesa, POS systems and getting found on Google. Research, practical checklists and buying decisions, with references in our expanded guides.
34 guides · from Ken Designers
LatestDeveloper Guides
Kronos AI trading bot: build, backtest and turn it into a business
A beginner's guide to Kronos, the open-source candlestick forecasting model: build a bot with Grok, backtest it, paper trade, server costs and SaaS ideas.
· 32 min read
Read article →
Developer Guides
10 open-source projects you can build a developer business around
Explore 10 open-source GitHub projects with practical paid-service ideas, licence checks, repo screenshots and a plan to win and deliver your first client pilot.
35 min read
SEO
Website not getting enquiries in Kenya? Diagnose the route from search to contact
Diagnose low website enquiries in Kenya by checking search visibility, offer clarity, mobile contact paths, receiving systems and qualified lead measurement.
4 min read
Guides
Website content checklist for Kenyan businesses: what to give your designer
Prepare service copy, product data, project evidence, approved images and contact details for a Kenyan business website with a practical content handover checklist.
4 min read
Guides
Website ownership in Kenya: domain, hosting, content and code handover
Check website ownership and handover in Kenya: domain registration, hosting, CMS access, licences, backups and support, with evidence to request from your developer.
4 min read
Guides
From spreadsheets to business software in Kenya: choose one workflow and migrate safely
Decide when to replace spreadsheets with business software in Kenya, compare ERP and custom options, and plan data cleanup, permissions, migration and pilot tests.
4 min read
Ecommerce
POS and ecommerce integration in Kenya: keep shop and online stock consistent
Scope POS and online-store stock integration in Kenya: product codes, reservations, returns, offline sales and acceptance tests that expose overselling risks.
4 min read
Guides
School website design in Kenya: help parents understand admissions and enquire
Plan a school website in Kenya with clear admissions content, editable term information, parent enquiries and a practical content and launch checklist.
4 min read
Guides
Tour operator websites in Kenya: enquiries, quotations or instant bookings?
Choose a tour website workflow for Kenya: itinerary enquiries, quotations, availability, deposits and booking tests, with a practical scope comparison.
4 min read
Guides
Website redesign in Kenya: improve your site without losing useful pages
Plan a Kenyan business website redesign with URL mapping, content checks, ownership, enquiry testing and a practical migration acceptance checklist.
4 min read
Ecommerce
Wholesale ecommerce in Kenya: packs, bulk prices and repeat ordering
Scope a Kenyan wholesale ordering website with pack sizes, minimum orders, customer pricing, stock and repeat-order tests before requesting a quotation.
4 min read
Ecommerce
Ecommerce delivery in Kenya: quote fees, manage pickup and handle returns
Plan delivery zones, pickup, order tracking and return workflows for a Kenyan online store, with checkout scenarios and a practical fulfilment checklist.
4 min read
Guides
Website design cost in Kenya: compare scope, not just price
Understand website quotes in Kenya: build costs, renewals, content, ownership and launch checks. Prepare a clear brief before choosing a developer.
5 min read
Guides
Hiring a software developer in Kenya: a buyer’s evaluation guide
Choose a software partner using workflow evidence, ownership terms, security checks and support plans. A practical checklist for Kenyan business buyers.
5 min read
Guides
Custom software cost in Kenya: scope, build or buy, and running costs
Plan a custom software budget with workflow scope, build-versus-buy checks, integrations, migration, security and recurring operating costs.
5 min read
Guides
Choosing a POS system in Kenya: test your shop before you buy
A practical POS buying guide for Kenyan retailers: demonstrate stock, returns, permissions, payments, offline behaviour, migration and data export.
5 min read
Guides
How to write a website or software project brief in Kenya
Create a clear project brief with business goals, customer journeys, content, integrations, responsibilities and acceptance checks. Free fill-in template.
5 min read
SEO
Website launch SEO checklist for Kenyan businesses
A practical launch checklist covering indexing, mobile speed, page titles, local business details and enquiry tracking for a Kenyan business website.
6 min read
Ecommerce
Product page checklist for an online store in Kenya
Build clearer product pages with useful photos, sizes, KES prices, delivery information and payment expectations for shoppers in Kenya.
5 min read
Payments
How M-Pesa STK push works on your store
A plain-English guide to M-Pesa Daraja STK push: what happens when a customer pays, why some integrations drop transactions, and what a reliable checkout needs.
6 min read
Guides
WordPress or Next.js for a Kenyan business? Choose by workflow
Compare WordPress and Next.js for content editing, custom workflows, deployment, maintenance and SEO. Choose a setup your Kenyan business can operate.
5 min read
Ecommerce
Ecommerce website cost in Kenya: budget for the whole store
Compare online store quotes in Kenya using catalogue, checkout, M-PESA, delivery, administration, maintenance and realistic launch-test requirements.
5 min read
SEO
Local SEO for Kenyan businesses: turn relevant searches into enquiries
Improve local search foundations with accurate Google Business Profile details, useful service pages, genuine reviews and a measurable enquiry journey.
8 min read
Compliance
KRA eTIMS and your online store, explained
A short, practical overview of KRA eTIMS for ecommerce in Kenya and why building your store to be eTIMS-ready from day one saves pain later.
4 min read
Guides
Choosing a web designer in Kenya: evidence to check before hiring
Compare Kenyan web designers on relevant work, content, mobile usability, SEO scope, ownership and support. Use a practical supplier scorecard.
5 min read
Guides
Why your business needs a website
Social media is not enough. Here is why a proper website still matters for a business in Kenya, and what it does that a Facebook page cannot.
4 min read
Ecommerce
WooCommerce vs Shopify for Kenyan stores
A practical comparison of WooCommerce and Shopify for an online store in Kenya, covering M-Pesa, fees, control and which suits your business.
6 min read
Payments
How to set up M-Pesa on your website
A plain overview of what it takes to accept M-Pesa on your website through the Daraja API, and what to get right so payments do not fail.
5 min read
Performance
Make your website fast in Kenya: measure, diagnose and test
Understand Core Web Vitals, PageSpeed lab and field data, images, scripts and hosting. A practical guide to improving the real mobile enquiry journey.
5 min read
Ecommerce
Product descriptions that actually sell
How to write product descriptions for your online store that answer buyer questions, build trust and turn browsers into paying customers.
4 min read
Guides
Do you need a mobile app or a website?
Most businesses that think they need an app actually need a good website. Here is how to tell which one is right for you, and why.
5 min read
SEO
Getting your business on Google Maps
A step-by-step look at getting your business onto Google Maps and the local results, so nearby customers can find and choose you first.
5 min read
Guides
What website maintenance really costs
A website is not a one-time cost. Here is what ongoing maintenance actually involves, why it matters, and what to budget for it.
4 min read
AI
Using AI to grow your online store
Practical, non-hype ways to use AI in an online store, from writing product copy to handling enquiries, and where it genuinely saves time.
5 min read