How to choose a POS system in Kenya

Most POS comparisons focus on features. For a Kenyan business, the more useful questions are about reliability and compliance, because those are what actually cause lost sales or KRA problems.

Does it work when the internet doesn’t?

Ask what happens to a sale started during an outage: does the till simply stop, or does it queue the sale locally and sync once connectivity returns? The second is what keeps a queue moving during a network or power blip.

Is M-Pesa built in, or bolted on?

Check whether STK push and manual M-Pesa confirmation are native to checkout, and whether receipt verification against Safaricom’s Daraja API is available — and on which plan tier, since it’s commonly gated as an add-on.

Is it actually KRA eTIMS compliant?

Confirm the system issues a proper eTIMS fiscal receipt per sale with the correct VAT band, not just a generic printed receipt. Ask what setup is required — typically your TIN, a branch identifier, and eTIMS credentials.

Can it grow with your branches?

If you run — or plan to run — more than one branch, check that stock, staff, and reporting are managed centrally with per-branch visibility, and that transfers between branches are tracked properly rather than handled as manual adjustments.

What does it actually cost?

Get the full picture: per-branch annual rate, one-time setup fee, additional-branch setup fee, and the cost of any add-ons (M-Pesa Daraja verification, AI features, priority support) you’ll actually need.