HATUA 1 · STEP 1
Find what you need at the market
Browse the market, ask questions in chat, agree on the item and the price. Nothing is paid yet — you’re just two people agreeing, like any market day.
The escrow story
Where your money goes.
“Pesa inasubiri kwenye amana — the money waits in escrow until both sides are done.”
That sentence is the whole product. Here it is, slowly — step by step.
HATUA 2 · STEP 2
Pay into escrow — never straight to the seller
The button says exactly what happens: “Pay into escrow.” An M-Pesa prompt comes to your phone, you approve it with your PIN, and the money lands with Mtu Kati. The total you saw is the total you pay.
Pesa iko salama!
The moment you pay, the app says it in plain words — and shows you exactly where the money sits.
HATUA 3 · STEP 3
Seller ships — with proof
Courier? You get a tracking number you can follow. Meeting in person? You hold a 6-digit handover code. Boda drop-off? A photo is recorded. Every step is stamped onto your order’s receipt, with the time it happened.
HATUA 4 · STEP 4
It arrives — check it calmly
Open the parcel. Is it what you ordered, in the condition described? Take your time. If something’s wrong, raise a dispute before you confirm.
The money: held while you check.
HATUA 5 · STEP 5
Say the word — the money is released
Confirming is a deliberate gesture — you slide to release, and the app tells you it’s final. 🤝 If you forget, the money auto-releases a few days after delivery proof — after two reminders, with the date written on your order from day one.
The money: with the seller — the deal is done.
The calm plan B
What if something goes wrong?
Usijali — your money stays safely held while we sort it out.
Tell us what went wrong
Pick the reason, say what happened, add photos if they help. It takes a minute, straight from the order.
The seller answers first
They get a short window to respond or make an offer — you can accept it or decline it. Many problems end here, politely.
A mediator decides
If you can’t agree, a Mtu Kati mediator — a person with a name — reviews both sides’ evidence and decides: refund, release, or a fair split. Every shilling is accounted for, the reasons are written down, and there’s an appeal if you disagree.
Fair questions
Asked before you had to ask
Who is actually holding my money?
Mtu Kati. When you pay, the money goes into escrow with a licensed payment partner — not to the seller, and not into our spending account. It sits there until you confirm, the auto-release window passes, or a mediator decides.
What is a handover code?
For in-person deals, the app gives you — the buyer — a 6-digit code. You share it only when the item is in your hands, because entering that code is the proof of delivery. Never share it early.
When exactly does the money move?
Three ways only: you confirm delivery (nimepokea), the auto-release window passes after delivery proof, or a mediator decides a dispute. Nothing else moves it — not the seller, not time pressure, not us on a whim.
What does it cost?
A small service fee, always shown before you pay — the total you see at checkout is the total you pay. Sellers pay a commission when the money is released. No hidden lines, ever.
What if I forget to confirm?
We remind you twice. If you still do nothing, the money auto-releases a few days after delivery proof — the exact date is written on your order from day one. If something’s wrong, dispute before it releases and the money stays held.
Can I just pay the seller directly?
Please don’t. Money sent outside Mtu Kati has no protection — nothing held, no mediator, no refund path. Inside the app, even the chat will warn you if someone asks you to pay outside.
Ready to buy smarter?
Mtu Kati is coming to all platforms — Android, iPhone and the web. Join the waitlist — we’ll write to you the day the doors open.
Join the waitlist · JiungeOpens your email app · hello@mtukati.com