How to Hire a Web Developer in Kenya: 15 Questions to Ask Before You Pay a Deposit

You're about to spend KES 50,000-150,000. Ask these first.

Every week, a Kenyan business owner messages us with a horror story. "I paid a deposit. The developer disappeared." "The site looks nothing like the demo." "They won't give me admin access." Most of these problems could have been avoided with 15 minutes of vetting. Here's your script.

The 15 questions (ask every single one)

1. "Can I see 3 live Kenyan websites you've built — right now, on my phone?"

Don't accept screenshots or PDF portfolios. Ask for live URLs. Test each on your phone using 4G, not Wi-Fi. If any take more than 4 seconds to load or break on mobile, cross them off your list.

2. "Who owns the domain and hosting account?"

The right answer: "YOU will own both. We'll help you set them up in YOUR name, or transfer them to you immediately." The wrong answer: "We handle all that for you" (translation: they hold your assets hostage).

3. "Have you integrated M-Pesa STK Push before? Can I see a live example?"

If they say "we can figure it out" or "we use Paybill instead," they haven't done real M-Pesa integration. STK Push is the gold standard. Ask to see a live checkout on a client's site.

4. "What SEO deliverables are included in your quote?"

Vague answers like "SEO optimization" are red flags. The right answer includes specific items: schema markup, sitemap.xml, robots.txt, Google Search Console setup, title tag optimization, meta descriptions.

5. "What's your post-launch support process?"

Ask: Response time for urgent issues? Fix windows? Emergency contact? Get SLA terms in writing. "We're always available" means nothing. "We respond within 4 business hours via WhatsApp" means something.

6. "Do I get full admin access on final payment?"

Any hesitation here is a dealbreaker. You should receive: CMS login (WordPress, etc.), hosting control panel access, FTP/SFTP credentials, domain registrar login. All of it.

7. "What happens if I want to leave you and go to another developer?"

A confident developer says: "We'll provide full documentation, source code, and a handover session. You own everything." A scared developer says "Why would you want to leave?"

8. "What's your revision process and how many are included?"

Get numbers: "2 rounds of revisions on design, 1 round on content." Unlimited revisions sound good but often mean "we'll nitpick forever and never launch."

9. "Can you provide 2 past Kenyan clients I can WhatsApp?"

Anyone can fake a testimonial. A real client you can message directly — priceless. Call them. Ask: "Did they deliver on time? What went wrong? Would you hire them again?"

10. "What's your payment schedule?"

Industry standard in Kenya: 50% deposit, 30% on design approval, 20% on launch. Never pay 100% upfront. Never. Watch out for "100% before launch" — that's a hostage situation waiting to happen.

11. "What happens if the project goes over timeline?"

Good answer: "We'll communicate delays as soon as we see them and adjust the timeline transparently." Bad answer: "That won't happen" (it will) or silence.

12. "Do you use templates or build custom?"

Both are valid, but be clear. Template-based should cost KES 30,000-60,000. Custom should cost KES 75,000+. Don't pay custom prices for a template with your logo slapped on.

13. "How do you test on Kenyan mobile networks?"

They should test on budget Android phones (Tecno, Itel, Infinix) using Safaricom 4G. If they only test on iPhone with Wi-Fi, they're missing the 95% of Kenyan users.

14. "What's your backup policy?"

Answer should include: automated daily backups, stored offsite (not on the same server), and a documented restoration process. "We don't do backups" = run away.

15. "Can you put everything in a written contract before I pay anything?"

If they refuse or say "I don't do contracts" — walk away immediately. A written scope protects both of you. It should include: deliverables, timeline, payment schedule, revision policy, ownership terms, support period.

Bonus: 5 red flags that mean "don't hire"

• No portfolio of live Kenyan sites — only screenshots or international examples
• Using nulled/premium themes without license — this is illegal and insecure
• Refusing to sign a simple scope document — they don't want accountability
• Asking for 100% payment before launch — they have no incentive to finish
• Can't explain their process in plain language — they don't know what they're doing

What to do after they answer

Take their answers and verify what you can:

• Test their portfolio sites yourself
• Actually WhatsApp their past clients
• Read their contract carefully before signing
• Check if they have a physical address in Kenya

Need a developer you don't have to vet?

We've already passed our own test. See our web design service or check our transparent pricing. Or message us on WhatsApp — we'll answer all 15 questions before you pay a shilling.