Hotel management software for Kenya.
Tivuzo is hotel back office software for Kenya: a PMS, restaurant and bar POS, procurement, stores and accounts in Kenyan shillings, for hotels, lodges, camps and guest houses from Nairobi to the most remote property.
The best hotel management system for an independent property in Kenya runs reservations, the front desk, folios, housekeeping, the restaurant and bar, purchasing, stores and accounts in one place, in KES, and records M-Pesa and other local payments with their references. Tivuzo does this in the browser, handles VAT (standard rate 16%) per room type, meal plan and item, keeps the restaurant and bar tills selling offline, and costs $13 per user per month with a 14-day free trial.
| Tivuzo in Kenya | |
|---|---|
| Currency | KES (Kenyan shilling): rates, folios, stock value and reports; other currencies for agents and suppliers |
| Payments | M-Pesa, Airtel Money, card and bank transfer, each with its own journal and reference |
| Tax | VAT per room type, meal plan and item (standard rate 16%); tax-included rates supported |
| Accounting | A chart of accounts suited to Kenya where available, plus profit and loss, balance sheet, ledgers and a VAT report |
| Internet | Restaurant and bar tills keep selling offline; the rest works on mobile data |
| Where | Nairobi, Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Watamu, Naivasha, Nanyuki, Kisumu and the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu and Tsavo |
| Price | $13 per user per month, or $124.80 per user per year |
The market in Kenya
Hospitality in Kenya is a mix of Nairobi business and conference hotels, coast resorts, and safari lodges and camps that sell mostly through tour operators. Across all of them, independent properties face the same back-office problems: bookings in one place, the bar and kitchen in another, stores in a notebook and the accounts typed up at month-end. With one system, every room night, bar bill, delivery and M-Pesa payment lands in the books as it happens, and the owner reads occupancy, revenue and costs from a phone.
What you get
Front desk and planner
Reservations, agents and companies, seasons, check-in and check-out.
Folios and billing
Room to the company or agent, extras to the guest, M-Pesa on the bill.
Restaurant and bar
Tables, charge to room, offline tills.
Procurement
Purchase orders with lead times, bills matched to deliveries.
Stores
Main, kitchen, bar and housekeeping stores with counts.
Accounts in KES
VAT, bank and mobile money matching, departmental profit and loss.
By type of property in Kenya
- Safari Camp Software in KenyaSoftware for safari and tented camps in Kenya, from the Maasai Mara conservancies: bookings, folios, stores, procurement and accounts in KES, with M-Pesa.
- Lodge Software in KenyaSoftware for lodges in Kenya, from Laikipia: bookings, folios, stores, procurement and accounts in KES, with M-Pesa.
- Resort Software in KenyaSoftware for resorts and beach hotels in Kenya, from Diani: bookings, folios, stores, procurement and accounts in KES, with M-Pesa.
- Guest House Software in KenyaSoftware for guest houses and B&Bs in Kenya, from Nairobi: bookings, folios, stores, procurement and accounts in KES, with M-Pesa.
- Hotel Management Software in KenyaSoftware for hotels in Kenya, from Nairobi: bookings, folios, stores, procurement and accounts in KES, with M-Pesa.
VAT, levies and tax systems
Tivuzo applies VAT as you set it on each room type, meal plan and item and keeps a VAT report by period. Hotels and restaurants also pay the Catering Levy to the Tourism Fund (2% of turnover at the time of writing) on top of VAT.
KRA eTIMS e-invoicing is not built into Tivuzo yet. Keep your eTIMS device or system for tax invoices and ask us where the link stands before you subscribe.
This page is general information, not tax advice. Rates and rules change: confirm your obligations with the tax authority or your accountant.
Licensing and guest records
Accommodation businesses in Kenya deal with licensing and standards set by the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) and local authorities. Tivuzo keeps clear records of every stay, guest and payment, including guest ID details captured at check-in and printable registration cards, which makes inspections and guest-register requests quicker. Always follow the authorities' requirements for your property.
Getting started in Kenya
Request a free trial and the Tivuzo team sets up your database in KES with your property name, rooms and rates; we help you load your stores items and opening balances during the trial. See how to get started and pricing. Elsewhere in East Africa: Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia. All countries: hotel software in Africa.
Hotel software in Kenya: questions
What is the best hotel software in Kenya?
For an independent property, software that joins the front desk, restaurant and bar, stores and accounts, works in KES and records M-Pesa. Tivuzo does this for $13 per user per month. Compare options with our buyer's guide.
Does Tivuzo accept M-Pesa?
Tivuzo records M-Pesa payments with their reference on folios and at the tills, in their own journal, and matches them to the statement. It doesn't collect the money itself. See payments.
Does Tivuzo work in KES?
Yes. Your database runs in KES; agents and suppliers who invoice in other currencies can be handled in theirs.
How much does hotel software cost in Kenya?
Tivuzo costs $13 per user per month in US dollars, whatever the number of rooms. A property with six people logging in pays $78 a month. Ask us about paying in KES.
Is Tivuzo connected to the tax authority?
KRA eTIMS e-invoicing is not built into Tivuzo yet. Keep your eTIMS device or system for tax invoices and ask us where the link stands before you subscribe.
Is there safari camp software for Kenya?
Yes. See safari camp software in Kenya, covering the Maasai Mara conservancies, Amboseli, Samburu, Laikipia, Tsavo and Lake Naivasha.
Last updated by the Tivuzo team.