Kenya
In Kenya the accounting-software decision is now an eTIMS decision. Since 1 January 2026 KRA validates income and expenses declared in tax returns against eTIMS invoices, so a supplier invoice that never reached eTIMS can cost you the deduction. Software that cannot transmit sales invoices to eTIMS, or match purchases against it, creates work every month.
Kenya is also the market where local-currency list prices are most common: Zoho Books and TallyPrime both publish shilling prices. M-Pesa reconciliation is the other daily job — check how a product imports Paybill and Till statements before you commit.
Kenya · 2026
| Requirement | Amount | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| USD/KES for software prices | KSh 129.91 (CBK, 22 Oct 2026) | Central Bank of KenyaAs of 22 Oct 2026 |
| Standard VAT rate | 16% | KRAAs of 28 Oct 2026 |
| eTIMS income and expense validationRule changed | In force for returns from 1 Jan 2026 | KRA public notice, summarisedAs of 1 Jan 2026 |
| Payroll deductions to post | PAYE, NSSF (cap KSh 6,480), SHIF 2.75%, Housing Levy 1.5% + 1.5% | KRA / NSSF / SHAAs of 1 Feb 2026 |
Featured software
Zoho BooksAccountingNot African-madeIndiaLow-cost cloud ledger with a free tier and local-currency prices in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.
QuickBooksAccountingNot African-madeUnited StatesUS-priced cloud ledger with the widest accountant ecosystem, billed in USD.
TallyPrimeAccountingNot African-madeIndiaDesktop-first accounting and inventory with a one-time licence, priced in shillings in Kenya.
OdooAll-in-oneNot African-madeBelgiumModular open-source ERP; accounting is one app and African implementations are partner-quoted.
SAP Business OneAll-in-oneNot African-madeIsrael (TopManage) / GermanySAP’s small-and-midsize ERP, sold and localised only through SAP partners.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business CentralAll-in-oneNot African-madeDenmark (Navision lineage) / United StatesMid-market cloud ERP from Microsoft: finance, inventory and purchasing for growing companies.
PaySpace (Deel Local Payroll)PayrollAfrican-madeSouth AfricaMulti-country African payroll and HR, now part of Deel as ‘Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace’.
TymsAll-in-oneAfrican-madeNigeriaAI-native double-entry books with inventory, payroll and approvals, billed per seat; built in Lagos.
What a Kenyan SME pays per month (list)
Zoho Books Standard
KSh 849
Billed annually, excl. VAT; eTIMS included
TallyPrime Silver
KSh 57,600 once
Excl. VAT; 1 year TSS
QuickBooks Simple Start
≈ KSh 4,937
$38 US list
Business Central Essentials
≈ KSh 10,393 per user
$80 + partner
Start here in Kenya
- How to choose accounting software in Kenya
eTIMS, M-Pesa and month-end.
- Zoho Books vs QuickBooks in Kenya
Shilling pricing versus the accountant ecosystem.
- TallyPrime vs Zoho Books in Kenya
Desktop licence versus cloud subscription.
- QuickBooks alternatives in Kenya
Ranked for eTIMS.
Questions Kenyan buyers ask
Which accounting software is eTIMS compliant?
Check KRA’s published list of approved third-party integrators. Zoho Books states it is a KRA-approved integrator using OSCU; TallyPrime integrates directly with eTIMS. Many ERP partners also ship connectors — ask for the approval, not a promise.
What is the difference between OSCU and VSCU?
OSCU (Online Sales Control Unit) suits lower-volume businesses that transmit each invoice online in real time. VSCU (Virtual Sales Control Unit) is for high-volume or system-to-system integration and can buffer invoices.
Can my accounting software read M-Pesa statements?
Most cloud products import CSV statements; Zoho Books has a direct M-Pesa integration in its Kenya edition. Test with a real month of Paybill or Till data during the trial.
Sources
- Zoho Books Kenya — eTIMS compliance 28 Oct 2026
- Zoho Books Kenya pricing 28 Oct 2026
- Tally Solutions Africa store 28 Oct 2026
- KPMG Kenya — eTIMS 28 Oct 2026
- Central Bank of Kenya exchange rates 28 Oct 2026