Escrow for online deals

Online transactions run on trust — escrow provides it

More Kenyan commerce happens through DMs than through checkout pages: Instagram boutiques, WhatsApp vendors, Telegram sellers, freelance deals closed over chat. The common thread is a stranger asking you to pay first. Online escrow inserts a neutral holder between you and that stranger.

What online escrow covers

• Social media shopping — Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp vendors.
• Digital goods — accounts, designs, templates, software, domains.
• Online services — freelance work, consultations, repairs booked online.
• Deposits & reservations — securing items, bookings or slots without losing your money.
• Marketplace deals — Jiji and similar platforms.

Why it beats direct M-Pesa

A direct M-Pesa send is instant — and instantly gone. Online escrow keeps the instant part (STK push takes seconds) while adding the missing piece: release only happens after delivery is confirmed. The seller still gets paid fast — just not before they deliver.

No apps, no accounts, no friction

Kenya Escrow is deliberately simple: the buyer creates a transaction in under a minute, pays by M-Pesa, and gets a private link to control the release. The seller gets SMS & WhatsApp updates on a view-only tracking link. Nobody installs anything.

When to use it

Any time the honest answer to "why should I trust this person?" is "I don't know them." If you're sending money to a stranger — or delivering to one — escrow is the right tool. Learn how it works or see pricing.