Choosing a web designer in Kenya is hard — everyone promises the same thing and prices range from KES 5k to 250k+. This scorecard gives you 6 objective questions to ask any designer (including us). Score each 0-2, then add up. Takes 5 minutes, saves you months of regret.
1. Exact price in writing?
0 = "it depends on your requirements", 1 = a range ("25k–50k"), 2 = fixed KES line-item with exactly what's included. A fixed price means they've done this before and know the work. A range means they'll surprise you later. Our prices: 28,999 / 39,999 / 49,999 — each with an exact deliverable list. Demand the same transparency from anyone.
2. Live date, not range?
0 = "2–4 weeks", 1 = "about a week", 2 = "3–5 days Starter / 1 week Business / 2 weeks Master" with a written approval gate before launch. A date means they control their process. A range means they're guessing or juggling too many clients. Ask: "What specific date will my site go live, and what do I need to deliver by when?"
3. M-Pesa native or plugin?
0 = "we'll add M-Pesa later" or "use Paystack", 1 = WooCommerce plugin, 2 = native Daraja API wiring (Till + Paybill) you can see in your own Safaricom portal. Plugin checkouts break on update, feel slow, and you don't own the flow. Ask to screen-share a test KES 10 payment — if they can't, they haven't built one.
4. Speed on cheap phone data?
0 = "fast", no number, 1 = 70–89 PageSpeed, 2 = 90+ on pagespeed.web.dev mobile. Most Kenyans browse on 3G/4G, not fibre. A site that loads in 5 seconds loses 53% of mobile visitors. Ask for a live site URL to test yourself — never trust a screenshot.
5. Who owns what?
0 = "we host it for you" (they own your site), 1 = "you own the domain", 2 = your domain + content + files + full license + M-Pesa credentials in your name. Read the terms before paying — some designers hold your site hostage when you leave. See our Terms for an example of what fair looks like.
6. What happens after launch?
0 = "good luck", 1 = "we're available if you need us", 2 = monthly care plan listed with hosting/security/backups/support and a reply-time SLA. A site without care rots — plugins go unpatched, SSL expires, speed decays. Ours: 4,999–9,999/mo, cancel anytime. Or DIY with the checklist in our Care guide.
Score: 10–12 = hire, 7–9 = ask more questions, <7 = walk away.
Red flags: won't put price/date in writing, no PageSpeed number, "lifetime hosting free" (nobody gives free hosting forever), won't let you own domain/files, no post-launch support.
Bonus: 3 questions to ask on the first call
- → "Can you send me a live site you built so I can test it on my phone?" — Tests honesty and speed.
- → "What happens if I want to leave you after 6 months?" — Tests ownership and lock-in.
- → "Do you use native M-Pesa or a plugin?" — Tests technical depth.
Challenge us
Send any competitor quote — we'll score both honestly, even if the answer is "they're fine, hire them." WhatsApp the quote →