TL;DR: Kenyan churches need software that integrates M-Pesa (Paybill and Till), works on Android, communicates via WhatsApp, and functions offline in rural areas. Zama is the strongest Kenya-built option. Asoriba has a Nairobi office and a free tier. Gathrik (launching March 2026) is built for exactly this market, with M-Pesa, WhatsApp, and fair pricing.
Why Kenyan Churches Need Different Software
Kenya is 85.5% Christian, with over 42 million people. From mega-churches like CITAM pulling in KES 2.4 billion annually to rural congregations in Turkana County with no fixed internet, the spectrum is massive.
But here’s the reality that most software reviews ignore: the way Kenyan churches operate is fundamentally different from American churches.
In Kenya:
- Members send tithes via M-Pesa Paybill, not credit cards
- Pastors announce events on WhatsApp groups, not email newsletters
- 94% of smartphones run Android (iOS barely exists)
- Rural churches need software that works offline and syncs later
- Over 80% of churches operate without formal financial systems, which means digital tools aren’t a nice-to-have, they’re a governance necessity
Yet every “best church software” article recommends Planning Center and Breeze, tools with zero M-Pesa support, no WhatsApp, and pricing in USD.
Let’s talk about what actually works here.
What Kenyan Churches Need From Software
1. M-Pesa Integration (Non-Negotiable)
M-Pesa isn’t just popular in Kenya. It’s the financial infrastructure. Churches already use Paybill numbers for tithes, offerings, and pledges. CITAM, for example, has specific M-Pesa Paybill numbers listed for each branch.
What good church software should do:
- Connect to your M-Pesa Paybill and automatically reconcile payments
- Match transactions to members using the account number field
- Generate giving reports without manual spreadsheet work
- Support both Paybill (for tracked member giving) and Till numbers (for quick offerings)
Transaction costs are low: Churches receiving via Paybill pay roughly 0.5% (capped at KES 200). For a KES 1,000 tithe, the church pays about KES 5 in fees. That’s far cheaper than card processing in the US.
2. WhatsApp Communication
97% of Kenyan internet users are on WhatsApp. That’s not a nice-to-have. It’s where your congregation lives digitally. Open rates hit 98% compared to ~20% for email.
SMS works too, but at KES 0.80-1.06 per message (Safaricom bulk rates), costs add up. A 500-member church sending 4 messages per month spends KES 1,600-2,000/month on SMS alone. WhatsApp costs a fraction of that.
3. Android-First Design
94% of Kenyan smartphones run Android. The reason is simple: an Android phone costs as little as KES 3,000. An iPhone costs KES 126,000+.
Any church management app that’s iOS-first or desktop-only is ignoring how Kenyan church admins actually work: on their phones, between services, on matatu rides.
4. Offline Capability
Internet penetration in Nairobi is 64.7%. In Turkana County, it’s 12.7%. Only 0.6% of rural homes have fixed broadband.
Church software that requires a constant internet connection will fail outside Nairobi, Mombasa, and a handful of other urban centres. You need offline access with cloud sync when connectivity returns.
5. Affordable KES Pricing
US church software at $72-$100+/month converts to KES 9,300-13,000+/month before you’ve even added modules. For small and medium Kenyan churches, that’s a significant chunk of the operating budget.
The Best Church Management Software for Kenyan Churches
1. Zama Smart Church
Best for: Kenyan churches of all sizes that want a local, full-featured solution.
Zama is a Kenya-built, cloud-based church management platform designed specifically for the Kenyan context. They understand M-Pesa, they understand the offline challenge, and they build for the local market.
Pricing: Free setup, onboarding, and 12 months of support included (contact for monthly pricing)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built in Kenya, for Kenya | Pricing not publicly listed |
| M-Pesa integration (Paybill + Till) | Newer platform, smaller user base |
| Offline sync for rural churches | Limited visibility outside Kenya |
| Scales from 100 to 10,000 members | |
| Automated SMS and email alerts | |
| Family and member profile management |
Key Features:
- Membership management with family profiles
- Attendance tracking
- Tithe and offering tracking with M-Pesa reconciliation
- Automated SMS and email communication
- Sermon and events calendar
- Group and cell management
- Bank deposit and manual entry support for envelope giving
Verdict: Zama is the most Kenya-specific option available. If M-Pesa integration and offline access are your top priorities, start here.
2. eKanisa
Best for: Kenyan churches looking for a proven local platform.
eKanisa serves over 400 churches in Kenya and provides role-specific tools for pastors, admins, and volunteers. It’s built with the Kenyan church context in mind.
Pricing: Contact for quote
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 400+ churches already using it | Limited public information on features |
| Role-specific tools (pastor, admin, volunteer) | Pricing not transparent |
| Kenyan-built and supported | Smaller online presence |
Verdict: Worth evaluating alongside Zama. The 400-church track record gives some confidence, though they could be more transparent about features and pricing.
3. Asoriba
Best for: East and West African churches, especially those wanting a mobile app experience.
Asoriba is headquartered in Ghana but has a Nairobi office (Westlands Office Park, Waiyaki Way). They serve churches across Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. Their mobile app is a strength.
Pricing: Free for churches with 50 members or below. Larger churches request a quote.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free tier for small churches | Ghana-first (Kenya features may lag) |
| Physical Nairobi office | M-Pesa integration depth unclear |
| Good mobile app (Android + iOS) | Pricing for larger churches not listed |
| Multi-branch integration | WhatsApp integration limited |
| Digital giving with real-time confirmations |
Key Features:
- Member and attendance management
- Financial tracking (tithes, offerings, pledges)
- SMS, email, and push notifications
- Devotional content distribution (audio, video, text)
- Prayer request submission
- Group and cell communication
Verdict: The free tier makes Asoriba accessible for small churches. But it’s built Ghana-first, so M-Pesa integration may not be as deep as Kenya-specific tools like Zama. Visit their Nairobi office and ask specifically about M-Pesa Paybill integration before committing.
4. Gathrik (Launching March 2026)
Best for: Kenyan churches that want M-Pesa + WhatsApp + modern software without paying American prices.
Gathrik is being built for churches in markets exactly like Kenya, where M-Pesa is the payment rail, WhatsApp is the communication channel, and Android is the device. Fair pricing designed for the Kenyan market, not US prices converted to KES.
Pricing: Fair pricing for your market (not one-size-fits-all US rates)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| M-Pesa integration (Paybill + Till) | New (launching March 2026) |
| WhatsApp communication built-in (Phase 2) | Feature set still growing |
| Built for mobile-first, low-bandwidth contexts | Mobile app coming post-launch |
| Multi-currency for diaspora giving | Smaller team |
| Kenya Data Protection Act compliant |
Verdict: If you can wait until March, Gathrik is purpose-built for the Kenyan church experience. If you need something today, Zama is your best bet.
What About US Tools?
Let’s be direct about why American church software struggles in Kenya:
| Factor | Planning Center | Breeze | What Kenyan Churches Need |
|---|---|---|---|
| M-Pesa | No | No | Paybill + Till integration |
| No | No | Primary communication channel | |
| Offline Mode | No | No | Essential for rural churches |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | Must be Android-optimized |
| Pricing | KES 13,000+/month | KES 9,300+/month | Affordable in KES |
| Local Support | US timezone | US timezone | East Africa timezone |
| Data Compliance | US-focused | US-focused | Kenya DPA 2019 |
The only scenario where a US tool makes sense is for large, well-funded urban churches (think CITAM or Nairobi Chapel scale) where the team is already familiar with the software and the budget isn’t a constraint.
M-Pesa Setup Guide for Churches
If you’re not already collecting digitally, here’s the quick overview:
Paybill (Recommended for Churches)
- What: Members send money to your business number, entering an account number (e.g., their name or member ID)
- Best for: Tracking individual member giving
- Setup: Apply at any Safaricom shop or m-pesaforbusiness.co.ke
- Requirements: Church registration documents, KRA PIN, bank account
- Fees: ~0.5% per transaction, capped at KES 200
Till Number
- What: Simpler payment (member just sends to the number)
- Best for: Quick offerings, walk-in payments
- Fees: Similar to Paybill
Short-Term Paybill
- What: Temporary Paybill for specific projects (6 months)
- Best for: Building funds, special campaigns
- Less documentation required than a permanent Paybill
Pro tip: The real power comes when your church management software connects to your Paybill via the Safaricom Daraja API and automatically matches transactions to member records. That eliminates the manual reconciliation that wastes hours every week.
How to Choose: Decision Guide
Small church (under 100 members), tight budget:
Start with Asoriba’s free tier to get organized. If you outgrow it, evaluate Zama or Gathrik.
Medium church (100-500 members) with M-Pesa giving:
Zama is your strongest option today. M-Pesa integration and offline access matter here. Demo it and ask about pricing for your size.
Church with rural branches:
Offline capability is essential. Zama explicitly supports offline sync. Verify this feature with any platform you evaluate, as most cloud-based tools assume always-on internet.
Diaspora church (members in Kenya AND abroad):
You need software that handles both M-Pesa (KES) and international payments (GBP, USD). Members in the UK want to give in Pounds; members in Nairobi want to send via Paybill. Gathrik is built for exactly this split.
Large church (500+ members, strong budget):
Evaluate Zama or eKanisa for local fit. If you’re already comfortable with US tools and have budget, Planning Center works. Just plan for a separate M-Pesa and WhatsApp solution.
Comparison Table
| Platform | Built For | M-Pesa | Offline | Free Tier | Mobile App | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zama | Kenya | Yes (Paybill + Till) | SMS/Email | Yes | No | Web-based |
| eKanisa | Kenya | Likely | Unknown | Unknown | No | Unknown |
| Asoriba | West/East Africa | Limited | Limited | No | Yes (under 50) | Yes |
| Gathrik | Global (Kenya priority) | Yes (Phase 2) | Yes (Phase 2) | Planned | Coming | Coming |
| Planning Center | USA | No | No | No | Partial | Yes |
| Breeze | USA | No | No | No | No | Yes |
The Data Protection Factor
Kenya’s Data Protection Act 2019 (modelled after GDPR) applies to churches too. If you’re storing member data (names, phone numbers, giving history, pastoral notes), you’re a data controller under the law.
What this means practically:
- Your software must store data securely
- Members have a right to know what data you hold on them
- You should be able to export and delete member data on request
- Your provider should be registered with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
This isn’t just bureaucracy. It’s about protecting your members’ trust. Ask any software provider you evaluate: where is the data stored, who has access, and can you export it?
FAQ
What is the best free church management software in Kenya?
Asoriba offers a free tier for churches with 50 members or fewer. It’s the most accessible starting point. For churches that outgrow the free tier, Zama and eKanisa are Kenya-specific options worth evaluating.
How do Kenyan churches collect tithes digitally?
Most use M-Pesa Paybill numbers. Members send money to the church’s Paybill number with their name or member ID as the account reference. Church management software like Zama can connect to the Paybill via Safaricom’s Daraja API to automatically reconcile payments with member records.
Does Planning Center work in Kenya?
Technically yes, but it lacks M-Pesa integration, WhatsApp support, and offline access. Pricing is in USD (KES 13,000+/month at current rates). It’s designed for American churches with American payment methods and communication patterns.
Is WhatsApp or SMS better for church communication in Kenya?
WhatsApp reaches 97% of Kenyan internet users with 98% open rates. SMS reaches more people (including those without smartphones) but costs KES 0.80-1+ per message. The best approach: use WhatsApp as your primary channel and SMS as a fallback for members without smartphones or data.
What about data protection for Kenyan churches?
Kenya’s Data Protection Act 2019 requires churches to handle member data responsibly, including secure storage, consent mechanisms, and the ability to export or delete data on request. Choose software that complies with the DPA and can tell you where your data is stored.
This article is part of our series on church management software for churches worldwide. See our guides for Nigeria, the UK, and our global overview.