How to Choose a Software Development Company in Kenya: 12 Questions to Ask

To choose a software development company in Kenya, check four things: proof they have shipped similar projects, a fixed scope with milestone payments, written ownership of your code and accounts, and a clear plan for support after launch. The 12 questions below help you test each one.

Picking the wrong partner is expensive. A Standish Group study of IT projects found that only 31% were fully successful in 2020, while 50% ran late, over budget or short on features, and 19% failed (CHAOS 2020). Most of those problems start with a vague contract and the wrong team.

Why is "the best software company in Kenya" the wrong question?

Search for the best software development company in Kenya and you get directories and lists. GoodFirms lists 132 Kenyan software companies with a median rate of $37 an hour (GoodFirms), and Clutch ranks Nairobi firms by verified reviews (Clutch). Many other "top 10" lists are written by agencies that rank themselves first.

Directories are a useful starting point for finding a software development company in Kenya. However, the best company for a hospital system is not the best for a school app or an M-Pesa checkout. Instead of asking who is best, ask who has solved a problem like yours, and whether they will put their promises in writing.

What should you ask before hiring a software development company?

1. Can you show me a similar project that is live?

Ask for a link or a demo, not only screenshots. Then ask what the hardest part was. Teams that really built it answer quickly and specifically.

2. Can I speak to two past clients?

A company that refuses to share references is a major red flag. Ask those clients whether the project finished on time and how problems were handled.

3. Who exactly will build my project?

Find out who writes the code, whether they are employees or subcontractors, and what happens if that person leaves.

4. Will you do a discovery phase or prototype first?

A short discovery phase turns your idea into a written scope, screens and an estimate. As a result, you can compare quotes properly. At Bluvig, we offer a free clickable prototype on request before any deposit is paid.

5. Is the price fixed, and what is included?

Get a fixed quote tied to a written list of features. Ask what counts as a change, and how changes are priced.

6. How are payments structured?

Avoid paying most of the money up front. A common structure in Kenya is a deposit of around 30%, with the rest paid in milestones as working software is delivered (McTaba). Each milestone should name a deliverable, not "progress".

7. Who will own the code?

Under Section 31 of Kenya's Copyright Act, copyright in a commissioned work is deemed transferred to the person who commissioned it, unless the contract says otherwise (Copyright Act, WIPO Lex). In other words, the contract decides. Make sure it states that you own the source code, designs and documentation once you have paid.

8. Whose name will the accounts be in?

Your domain, hosting, database, app store listings and payment accounts should be registered to your business. Similarly, the code should live in a repository you control, with the developer invited as a collaborator. If the vendor holds these accounts, leaving them can mean starting over.

9. How will you protect my customers' data?

Kenya's Data Protection Act applies to software that stores personal data. Many businesses must register with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, and registration for a small business costs KES 4,000 (ODPC). Ask how the vendor secures data, who can access it, and whether they will sign a data processing agreement.

10. How will I see progress?

Look for regular demos of working software, for example every one or two weeks. Long silences followed by a big reveal are how budgets overrun.

11. What happens after launch?

Ask about the warranty period, response times for bugs, monthly maintenance costs and who handles hosting. Software needs updates, so get the support terms in writing.

12. Do you know the Kenyan systems I need?

Local integrations matter. For instance, M-Pesa, KRA eTIMS, SMS gateways and bank APIs each have their own rules. A team that has already shipped them saves you weeks. Our guides to M-Pesa integration and KRA eTIMS integration show what is involved.

What are the red flags when hiring a developer?

Walk away, or at least slow down, if you see these:

• No working examples or references

• Pressure to pay most of the price before work starts

• Vague scope, such as "a system like Uber" with no feature list

• The vendor insists on owning the domain, hosting or code

• No written contract, or a contract silent on ownership and support

• A price far below everyone else's, with no explanation

Should you hire a freelancer or a software company?

Freelancers suit small, well-defined tasks, and they cost less (see what a website costs in Kenya for typical price gaps). However, a business system needs design, development, testing and support, which is hard for one person to cover. If that person gets busy or leaves, your project stalls.

A software company costs more but spreads that risk across a team. Whichever you choose, the questions above still apply to any software development company in Kenya.

How does Bluvig answer these questions?

We built our process around them. You get a fixed quote, a free prototype on request, and working software in short milestones. Your code, content, domain and app store listings are yours once the project is paid for, and we sign an NDA on request. You can read how we work on our process page, see examples on our work page, or learn about our custom business software service.

If you are comparing software development companies in Kenya, send us your brief. We will reply with clear answers to all 12 questions.