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Web Design · Nairobi, Kenya

Websites built for businesses that plan to be here in five years.

We design and build custom websites and desktop applications for businesses in Nairobi and beyond. Marketing sites, e-commerce, membership portals, internal systems, and native apps. Planned properly, built carefully, and delivered with everything needed to run them long after launch.

130+
Projects shipped since 2021
KES 250k
Marketing site, starting
4–6 wks
Typical timeline
Recent launch Carlysana website, custom web design Nairobi by The Baobab Collective

Carlysana, Creative Studio

Figma to Webflow · Custom Lottie animations

Recent clients
Afrimac Nuts Sameer Africa TireProz Autoz Carlysana CheekyWags Spenderrific Lifesaving Africa Novus Pak
Our approach

Most businesses we speak to have already explored a few options before coming to us.

Some have received quotes based on pre-built templates. Others have looked at more complex custom builds but weren't sure what the difference would mean in practice. Our approach is straightforward.

We design each site around the business itself: its customers, its operations, and how it is expected to grow. From there, we build the site in a way that supports that structure, rather than forcing the business to fit into a pre-defined system. The result is a website that loads quickly, is easy to maintain, and continues to perform as the business evolves.

If that is the kind of foundation you are looking for, then you are in the right place.

Starting prices

Fixed scopes. Fixed quotes.

Each project starts with a clear understanding of what needs to be built. Based on that, we provide a fixed quote outlining scope, timelines, and delivery stages before any work begins. The ranges below reflect typical projects. Final pricing depends on the exact requirements discussed during the initial call.

E-commerce

Online stores with mobile payment integrations. Built for selling to customers wherever they are.

Customers pay the way they already prefer
Sell to customers anywhere in the world
Full order management, not just a product list
Scales as your catalogue grows
Built on WooCommerce or Next.js
From
KES 400,000
Typical timeline: 6–10 weeks
Membership Platform

User accounts, subscriptions, and client dashboards. Systems that require authentication and a database.

Different access levels for staff, members, admins
Recurring revenue handled automatically
You see everything in one admin dashboard
Handles thousands of users reliably
Built on Next.js, Prisma, Postgres
From
KES 600,000
Typical timeline: 8–12 weeks
Desktop Application

Native desktop software for Windows and macOS. Installs locally, works offline where needed, and ships with auto-update.

Runs on your existing Windows and Mac machines
Keeps working without an internet connection
Users always get the latest version automatically
Small installer, light on system resources
Built on Tauri or Electron
From
KES 650,000
Typical timeline: 8–12 weeks
Internal System

Operations dashboards, client portals, and custom CRMs. Often replacing shared spreadsheets.

Connects to the systems you already use
Your team sees the same data in real time
Control who can see and edit what
Hosted on your servers or in the cloud
Built with custom APIs and databases
From
KES 500,000
Typical timeline: 6–10 weeks
Redesign or Rebuild

For existing sites that need a structural rebuild. Begins with an audit and migration plan.

We understand what's worth keeping before changing it
Your existing content moves over cleanly
Current site stays live until the new one is ready
Your existing Google rankings carry over
Full audit and migration plan included
From
KES 220,000
Typical timeline: 4–6 weeks
Starting smaller

Campaign Landing Page · From KES 85,000 · 1–2 weeks

A single page with one clear objective. Often the right starting point for a new business that needs to look credible without committing to a full site, or for a campaign, product launch, or event signup.

Not sure which fits your project?

Book a free discovery call
Principles

How we work.

The way a website is built has a direct impact on how it performs over time. These are the principles we follow on every project.

01

Built in-house

Design, development, and deployment are handled by the same team from the first call to launch. Nothing passes through unfamiliar hands.

02

Built for long-term reliability

Each website is structured to remain stable as it grows. This reduces dependency on frequent fixes and avoids common issues that appear as systems become more complex.

03

Fixed scope and pricing

Scope, timeline, and payment stages are confirmed in writing before any work begins. The quoted price is what you pay.

04

Designed with local context in mind

Mobile payment gateways, procurement documentation, eTIMS invoicing, and .co.ke domain management are part of how we operate for Kenyan clients. International clients get the same rigour, applied to their own requirements.

05

Full ownership from day one

Once the project is complete, you receive full access to the code, design files, and hosting environment. The site is yours to manage, extend, or transfer at any time.

06

Performance and SEO as standard

On-page SEO, Core Web Vitals optimisation, schema markup, and accessibility are included in every engagement. They are not offered as upgrades after launch.

Process

Every project follows a clear sequence.

Decisions are made early, and nothing moves forward without alignment. You see progress each week.

01 · WEEK 1

Discovery

We begin with a short discussion to understand your business, your audience, and what the website needs to achieve. This is followed by a written scope and a fixed quotation.

02 · WEEKS 1–2

Design

We translate the structure into detailed page designs. You review and approve before development begins.

03 · WEEKS 2–5

Build

The site is developed and shared in stages, so you can see progress as it happens. Weekly staging links are standard.

04 · FINAL WEEK

Launch

After final checks, the site is deployed and all access is handed over. A 30-day warranty follows for any issues that surface post-launch.

Recent work

Recent work from the studio.

Selected case studies across web, desktop, and editorial. Each link opens the full breakdown.

See all work

"The Baobab Collective transformed our ideas into designs that genuinely connected with our brand and audience. Their work was thoughtful, polished, and brought a fresh perspective to our project."

GM
Githinji Muteru
Novus Pak Ltd
Nairobi
Digital studio and product lab
Since 2021
Five years designing and shipping
130+
Websites, apps, and brand systems delivered
Worldwide
Clients across Africa, Europe, and North America
Frequently asked

Questions we hear often.

What influences the cost of a website?

The cost of a website depends on how it is built and what it is expected to handle.

Simpler sites can be created quickly using pre-built templates or WordPress themes. More complex projects require custom design and development to support performance, integrations, and long-term flexibility. We focus on the latter, which is reflected in the pricing. A detailed breakdown is in our website cost guide.

How long does a website take to build?

Marketing sites typically take four to six weeks. E-commerce platforms with payment integrations run six to ten weeks. Single-page campaign sites deliver in one to two weeks.

A firm timeline is agreed in the quotation before work begins. Our week-by-week project timeline post explains how this plays out in practice.

Do you use WordPress or custom development?

Both, depending on the project. When a client needs to edit their own content, we use WordPress or Webflow as the content management system, with a custom design layer on top.

For platforms with custom logic such as bookings, memberships, dashboards, or marketplaces, we build with frameworks such as Next.js. Our custom builds ship with a minimal, purpose-built admin panel that only contains what the client actually needs, rather than the dense, plugin-heavy interfaces typical of WordPress. The result is a backend that is quicker to learn and easier to manage over time.

We do not use page builders like Elementor or WP Bakery, as they introduce performance and maintenance constraints over time.

Do you build desktop applications?

Yes. We build native desktop applications using Tauri and similar frameworks. These run on Windows and macOS, can work offline where required, and ship with auto-update built in.

A recent example is ChatXport, a privacy-first desktop tool for navigating WhatsApp chat exports on Windows. Built on Tauri v2 with Rust, distributed via the Microsoft Store. It is our own commercial product. Desktop engagements start at KES 650,000.

Who owns the code and design after launch?

The client. Full ownership is handed over at launch. This includes source code in a private Git repository, all Figma files, hosting credentials, CMS admin logins, and a written handover document.

The site can be managed, extended, or transferred to another developer at any time. Nothing is locked to us.

Can you integrate mobile payments such as M-Pesa and Pesapal?

Yes. Mobile payment integration is a regular part of our e-commerce work, including M-Pesa STK Push via the Safaricom Daraja API and equivalent regional gateways.

For card and cross-border payments, we handle Pesapal for local card acceptance and international gateways such as Stripe and Payoneer.

Can you respond to tenders and procurement processes?

Yes. We are a registered Kenyan company with a KRA PIN and issue eTIMS-compliant tax invoices through the KRA's electronic invoicing system. A company profile document is available for procurement processes.

Formal proposals with scope, methodology, and references are prepared on request.

Do you offer hosting and an Annual Maintenance Contract?

Yes. Deployment is on Cloudflare Pages, Vercel, or the client's preferred host, depending on the project.

Annual Maintenance Contracts begin at KES 50,000 per month and cover plugin updates, security monitoring, content changes, backups, and priority support.

What if we already have a designer or brand team?

Build-only engagements are a regular part of our work. If Figma files are already prepared, we skip the design phase and price the project accordingly. We have built from designers' handoffs, brand agency guidelines, and detailed internal briefs.

Do you work with clients outside Nairobi?

Yes. Clients are based across Africa, Europe, and North America. The process is structured for remote collaboration, with weekly staging links, shared Figma files, and scheduled video calls.

For Nairobi-based clients, in-person meetings at your office or a mutually convenient location are welcome.

Can you register or transfer a .co.ke domain?

Yes. Registration and transfer handled through KENIC-accredited registrars for .co.ke, .ke, .or.ke, and .ac.ke domains. DNS management is included for the duration of the engagement, and a transfer-in can be completed without downtime.

Do you handle SEO and Google Search Console setup?

On-page SEO, schema markup, sitemap submission, and Google Search Console setup are included in every engagement. The client receives a clean account they can log into directly.

Ongoing SEO, meaning keyword research, content strategy, and off-page work, is available as a separate monthly engagement where required.

Considering a new website, or a rebuild?

If you are planning a new website, or considering a rebuild of an existing one, we are happy to review your requirements and advise on the best approach. The initial consultation is straightforward and comes with no obligation.