E-commerce has been one of the fastest growing sub-sectors in Kenya as consumers continually take to the internet to make purchases. This has seen a multitude of platforms emerge each seeking a slice of the lucrative market from online classifieds services such as PigiaMe and Olx to online retailers such as Jumia and Kilimall. The Communications Authority of Kenya has been keen to ensure this growth propels the sector further and has such created guidelines to guide the growth. These guidelines deal with segments such as delivery and payments.
A while back, this blog carried a story on VituMob, a platform that allows Kenyans to make purchases from respected global retailers. By simply downloading a Chrome extension and adding it to a browser, one can access global e-commerce websites such as Amazon, Apple, Macy’s, Target, David’s Bridal, Bath & Body Works and even Auto Parts Warehouse among many others. Once you are at any of these sites, a pop-up at the top will appear directing you to load your items from the cart and check out with VituMob once you are done shopping. It also allows you to for your items by either using PayPal or MPESA.
Kilimall is now looking to venture into this space, which has been quite lucrative for VituMob by launching a global shopping service. Through the service, Kilimall will take orders from customers, source them from merchants across the globe and then delivers them to the client. This differs from VituMob, in that it gives the consumer the convenience of personally sourcing. The delivery for these orders will then take an average of 25 days with Kilimall charging Kes 250-400 for offering the service. The service had been on a pilot for a few months and is now launching to all customers.
