How to Buy Online at Amazon.com and Ship to Kenya
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Amazon.com sells almost everything: books, phones, laptop parts, kitchen gadgets and more. Many items cost less than in Kenyan shops, but once you add shipping and taxes the saving can shrink fast. This guide shows you how to order from Amazon and get your parcel to Kenya, and how to work out the full cost before you click “Buy”.
What you need
- An Amazon account (free to create on amazon.com).
- A Visa or Mastercard debit, credit or virtual card that works for international online payments. Many Kenyan banks offer these, and so does Safaricom through the M-PESA GlobalPay virtual Visa card.
- A delivery address in Kenya, or a US address from a parcel-forwarding company (see step 5).
How to buy on Amazon and ship to Kenya
- Go to amazon.com and create an account or sign in.
- Set your delivery location to Kenya (click “Deliver to” at the top of the page). Amazon will then show prices in your chosen currency and mark items that can ship to Kenya.
- Search or browse for your item. On the product page, check that it says it ships to Kenya. Items sold and shipped by Amazon under the AmazonGlobal programme are the most likely to ship. Some third-party sellers do not ship abroad.
- Add the item to your cart and go to checkout. Enter your Kenyan delivery address and phone number, choose a shipping speed and pay with your card.
- If the item will not ship to Kenya, use a parcel-forwarding company such as MyUS or Shipito. They give you a US address to use at checkout, receive the parcel in the US and send it on to you in Kenya for a fee.
- Track your order from “Your Orders” in your Amazon account. A courier or Posta will contact you when the parcel arrives.
Taxes and duties
Goods imported into Kenya can attract import duty, excise duty and VAT, depending on the item. For items that ship directly, Amazon usually shows an Import Fees Deposit at checkout. This is Amazon’s estimate of those charges, collected up front. If the real charges are lower, Amazon refunds the difference.
If you use a forwarding company, the deposit does not apply and you may have to pay duty and taxes when the parcel is cleared in Kenya. For help with customs, see how to import goods into Kenya.
Tips and warnings
Compare the final price (item + shipping + import fees) with local online shops before you buy. For bulky items, local can be cheaper.
- Some products, such as some electronics, batteries and liquids, may not ship internationally or may be restricted.
- Returns from Kenya are slow and expensive. Read the product description and reviews carefully.
- Only enter your card details on amazon.com itself. Ignore emails or SMS messages claiming to be from Amazon that ask you to “confirm” your card.
Also see how to buy on eBay in Kenya.
