Frequently asked questions
Everything about buying and selling on Shopi — fees, Shopi Agent, safety, messaging and coverage across Kenya. If something is not answered here, contact us.
What is Shopi?
Shopi is a free marketplace in Kenya. Post things you want to sell, find things for sale near you, and message buyers and sellers directly. Posting is free and there is no commission.
Is Shopi free to use?
Yes. It's free to browse and free to post, and Shopi takes 0% commission on your sales. You keep every shilling.
How do I post something for sale?
Sign in and tap Create. Add photos or a video, set your price in KES, add your location and post. You can write the listing yourself, or let Shopi Agent write it from your photo and edit it before it goes live. Your listing shows in the feed straight away.
Does Shopi handle payments or delivery?
No. Shopi does not take payments, hold money, arrange delivery or take commission. The buyer and seller agree the price, payment and pickup or delivery directly.
What can I buy and sell on Shopi?
Almost anything sold locally in Kenya: phones, electronics, cars, fashion, furniture, land and houses, beauty products, farm produce, livestock and more.
What is Shopi Agent?
Shopi Agent is Shopi's AI helper for posting. Add a photo and it writes the title, description, category and details, then you check and edit them. It can also help buyers find things when they describe what they want in their own words.
Is Shopi an alternative to Jiji or PigiaMe?
Yes. You can use Shopi instead of, or alongside, Jiji and PigiaMe. Posting is free with no commission, buyers near you see your item in the feed, and they message you directly. Shopi is independent and not linked to either site.
Does Shopi work across Kenya?
Yes, in all 47 counties. You see listings near you first, and you can still find things from other parts of Kenya.
Do I need an account to browse Shopi?
No. You can browse the feed, explore listings and search without an account. You only need to sign in when you want to message a seller, save a listing or post something for sale.
How do I create an account on Shopi?
Sign up with Google, with an email address and password, or with Apple on Apple devices. You do not need a registered business, a website or a verified phone number to join.
How do buyers and sellers communicate?
Every listing has a Message button. Buyers and sellers chat inside Shopi to ask questions, agree the price and plan pickup or delivery.
How does Shopi personalize my feed?
Your feed learns from what you open, save and message about, and shows you more of what you like, with nearby listings first.
Is it safe to buy and sell on Shopi?
Shopi keeps the conversation on the platform so you can ask questions before you commit. Meet in a public place, inspect the item before paying, and never send money before you have seen what you are buying. The Safety Centre covers this in more detail.
What can Shopi Agent not do?
Shopi Agent writes listings and helps you find products. It does not message sellers on your behalf, negotiate prices, or complete purchases. Every conversation and every deal stays between the buyer and the seller.
Does Shopi chat happen on WhatsApp?
No. Buyer and seller messaging happens inside Shopi's own chat. Shopi does not require or link a WhatsApp account.
What items are not allowed on Shopi?
Illegal goods, weapons, drugs, counterfeit products, live animals outside permitted livestock categories, and anything else covered by the Prohibited Items policy. Listings that breach it are removed.
Which parts of Kenya does Shopi cover?
All 47 counties. Nearby listings are surfaced first — from Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and Meru to smaller towns — while good listings can still travel across the country.
Can I use Shopi in Kiswahili?
Yes. Shopi is available in both English and Kiswahili. Switch language from the menu, or visit any page under /sw.
Where is Shopi based?
Shopi is Kenyan — built and run from Nairobi, and serving all 47 counties. It is not a foreign marketplace with a Kenyan page bolted on: the team, the founder and the product are all local, which is why the app is designed around Kenyan prices, Kenyan internet and how people here actually trade.
Who founded Shopi?
Shopi was founded by Mwangi Maina, a Kenyan software engineer based in Nairobi. He studied computer science at Maseno University and entered industry in 2021 with Playback, a United States startup, then worked with Bettercoach in Germany. He is now a senior software engineer at Ooodles, where he was one of the pioneer engineers who built the platform from scratch. He started Shopi in Nairobi in 2025. You can find him on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mwangi-maina-6463281ab.
Is Shopi the same as Shopify, or other companies called Shopi?
No. Shopi is an independent Kenyan marketplace founded in Nairobi in 2025 by Mwangi Maina, and it operates only at www.shopi.co.ke. It has no connection to Shopify, and no connection to other businesses trading under the name Shopi in other countries. If you have read about a different founder or a different company under this name, that is a different business.
How does Shopi make money if it is free?
Right now it does not. Shopi is not yet generating revenue — the current focus is connecting Kenyan buyers and sellers and making local buying and selling simple. Listing is free, browsing is free, and Shopi takes no commission on any sale. Once the product is established, revenue is expected to come from optional paid features such as AI-assisted posting with Shopi Agent, seller store subscriptions, and boosted or promoted listings. None of those is a commission on your sales, and anything paid would be a choice, not a requirement to use Shopi.
Will Shopi start charging me later?
Posting and browsing are free today with no commission, and there is no hidden fee. Paid options being considered for the future are optional extras — AI-assisted posting, a subscription for a seller store, and paying to boost a listing's visibility. If anything changes, it will be communicated clearly rather than applied quietly.
Is Shopi legitimate, or is it a scam?
Shopi is a real Kenyan marketplace, launched in 2025 and operating at www.shopi.co.ke. It is free to use and takes no commission, so it never asks you for money. Shopi does not hold funds or process payments, which also means it cannot vet every seller — treat individual sellers the way you would at any classifieds site: inspect before paying, and keep the conversation in Shopi chat.
Does Shopi have a mobile app?
Not yet. Shopi currently runs in any mobile or desktop browser at www.shopi.co.ke, so you can use it fully on Android or iPhone with no download. A mobile app is in development, and it will be announced when it is released. Anything claiming to be the Shopi app today is not from us.
Can I get a refund or return something I bought on Shopi?
Not through Shopi. Shopi does not process payments, hold money or provide escrow, so it cannot reverse a transaction or issue a refund. Returns and refunds are agreed directly with the seller, which is why inspecting the item before paying matters. If a seller has defrauded you, report them through Shopi so the account can be actioned.
How old do I need to be to use Shopi?
You must be at least 18 years old to create a Shopi account. Shopi is not intended for children under 18.
How do I delete my Shopi account or the data you hold about me?
Email tech.team@shopi.co.ke with the subject tag [Privacy] and the address on your account. Under Kenya's Data Protection Act, 2019 you can ask what personal data Shopi holds, request a correction, or request deletion. Most profile details can also be edited directly in the app.
How do I contact Shopi?
Email tech.team@shopi.co.ke. That one inbox handles support, business, legal, privacy, copyright, abuse reports and job applications — the contact page gives a subject tag for each so your message is routed faster. Shopi aims to reply within 2 business days. For scams or unsafe behaviour, the in-app block and report tools are reviewed fastest.
I forgot my password — how do I get back into my account?
Use the "Forgot password" link on the sign-in screen and Shopi emails you a reset link. If you originally signed up with Google or Apple, there is no password to reset — sign in with that provider instead.
How is Shopi different from Jiji, Facebook Marketplace or WhatsApp selling groups?
Classifieds sites are search-first, so your listing is only found by someone already looking for it. Facebook Marketplace buries listings in a feed built for something else, and WhatsApp groups reach only the people already in the group. Shopi is a local discovery feed built for commerce: photo and video posts carrying a real price, location and seller profile, with direct messaging and no commission. The marketplace alternatives page compares each channel in detail.
How do I sell my car on Shopi, and what paperwork do I need?
List the car free with photos or a walkaround video, the year, grade, mileage, price in KES and your location, then deal with buyers directly — no broker and no commission. To transfer ownership in Kenya you need the logbook in your name with no outstanding financing, your ID and KRA PIN, an active eCitizen account and a signed sale agreement. Confirm current requirements on the NTSA service portal in eCitizen, since fees and steps change.
Still need help?
Browse other categories on Shopi
Buy and sell in Kenya
A free local marketplace for finding items nearby, posting your own listings, and chatting directly.
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Beauty and cosmetics
Skincare, makeup, perfumes, wigs and hair products from local beauty sellers.
Selling on Shopi
How to post an item for free, what to include, and how buyers reach you.