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 online marketplace in Kenya where people discover, buy and sell locally. Browse a personalized feed of nearby products, chat directly with buyers and sellers, or use Shopi Agent to make buying and selling faster and easier. Posting is free and there is no commission.
What is Shopi Agent?
Shopi Agent is your AI buying and selling assistant. It can turn a photo into a complete listing by generating titles, descriptions, categories and product details. It can also help buyers find products by understanding natural conversations instead of relying on exact search terms.
Does Shopi handle payments or delivery?
No. Shopi does not process payments, arrange delivery or take commission. Buyers and sellers agree directly on the price, payment method and delivery or pickup that works for them.
How is Shopi different from other marketplaces?
Shopi combines a personalized social feed with AI-powered assistance. Instead of only searching or filling long forms, you can discover products naturally, use Shopi Agent to create listings or find products, and connect directly with nearby buyers and sellers.
Is Shopi an alternative to Jiji or PigiaMe?
Yes. Shopi is a free Kenyan marketplace you can use instead of, or alongside, classifieds sites like Jiji and PigiaMe. Listing is free with no commission, buyers near you find your post in a local feed, and they message you directly. Shopi is independent and not affiliated with either site.
How does Shopi personalize my feed?
Your feed learns from what you view, save and message about. The more you use Shopi, the better it becomes at showing nearby products and categories that match your interests.
What can I buy and sell on Shopi?
Almost anything that can be bought and sold locally in Kenya, including cars, phones, electronics, fashion, furniture, home items, farm produce, livestock and much more.
How do I create a Shopi account?
Sign up with Google, with an email address and password, or with Apple on an Apple device. Joining is free, and you do not need a registered business, a website or a verified phone number to start selling.
How do I post something for sale?
Sign in and tap Create, then add photos or a video of the item. Write the listing yourself, or upload a photo and let Shopi Agent generate the title, description, category and specifications for you to review and edit. Add your price in Kenyan Shillings, a category and your location, then publish. Posting is free and the listing appears in the local feed immediately.
How do buyers and sellers communicate?
Every listing includes built-in messaging so buyers and sellers can chat directly, ask questions, negotiate and agree on payment and delivery without leaving Shopi.
Is Shopi free to use?
Yes. It's free to browse, free to post and Shopi takes 0% commission on your sales. You keep every shilling you earn.
Does Shopi work across Kenya?
Yes. Shopi is built for local discovery across all 47 counties. Nearby listings are prioritized so you can find products close to you, while still being able to discover listings 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.
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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]. 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 NTSA TIMS account and a signed sale agreement. Confirm current requirements on the NTSA TIMS portal, since fees and steps change.
Still need help?
Browse other categories on Shopi
Phones and electronics
Samsung, iPhone, used phones, smart TVs, laptops and speakers from sellers across Kenya.
Land, plots and property
Land, plots, houses for sale and houses for rent, from Nairobi to Nyahururu and Nyandarua.
Cars for sale
Used cars with photos or video, make, model, year, mileage, price and direct buyer chat.
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.