Now live · Kenya & East Africa's commission-free short-stay marketplace — book direct, pay by M-Pesa or mobile money. List your property →
Kenya & East Africa's Airbnb Marketplace

Stay like a local.
Pay direct. Pay less.

Airbnb short stays, holiday rentals, hotels and hostels across Nairobi, Mombasa, Diani, Lamu, Naivasha — and now Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Kigali, Bujumbura, Juba and Khartoum. Booked direct from real local hosts in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Sudan, with the rest of Africa next. M-Pesa and mobile-money native. No middleman markups. Money goes straight to the host.

✓ Direct mobile-money payment ✓ No middleman commission ✓ Real local hosts · 7 countries
Tropical Airbnb interior — Diani Beach villa
Modern living room — Kenyan Airbnb
M
M-Pesa · MTN MoMo · Airtel Money Pay direct, in seconds
Are you a host? Preview what your custom website will look like →
Click to view your custom website
Browse by category

Every kind of Airbnb short stay in East Africa.

From Airbnb-style apartments in Westlands or Kololo to beach villas in Diani and Zanzibar, boutique hotels in the Mara to budget apartments in Nakuru or Kigali — find a place that fits.

🏢

Short-Stay Apartments Airbnb

Furnished apartments, studios, 1-2BR units. Per-night and weekly rates. The bread and butter of Kenya's Airbnb scene.

Browse stays →
🏝

Holiday Rentals Airbnb

Beach villas, cottages, country homes. Airbnb-style independent stays from individual Kenyan hosts.

Browse stays →
⛺

Hotels & Lodges

Boutique hotels, lodges and small resorts. Service-led stays with restaurants, pools and full amenities.

Browse stays →
🛏

Hostels & Backpackers

Dorm beds, private rooms, social common spaces. Affordable stays for solo travelers and groups.

Browse stays →
Trending now

Airbnb short stays our travelers love.

Hand-picked Airbnb-style apartments, holiday rentals, hotels and hostels from across Kenya.

Kenya & East Africa

Find a stay in your city

From the coast to the highlands and across the region — seven countries covered. Kutoka pwani hadi milima, na zaidi.

Nairobi
— properties
Silicon Savannah
Mombasa
— properties
The Coast 🏖️
Kisumu
— properties
Lakeside City
Nakuru
— properties
Rift Valley
Eldoret
— properties
Champions' City 🏃
Other towns
— properties
Kenya-wide
Across East Africa

Bookable today — local hosts, local mobile money.

Kampala
Uganda
MTN MoMo · Airtel
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
M-Pesa · Zanzibar too
Kigali
Rwanda
MTN MoMo · Airtel
Bujumbura
Burundi
Lumicash · EcoCash
Juba
South Sudan
MTN MoMo · m-Gurush
Khartoum
Sudan
Bank · mobile wallet
Lipa na M-Pesa · MTN MoMo · Airtel Money

Pay the East African way — mobile money

Pay instantly from your phone — M-Pesa in Kenya and Tanzania, MTN MoMo and Airtel Money in Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan, Lumicash and EcoCash in Burundi, and bank or card where that's what works — or reserve now and pay later. Simple, instant, 100% local. No foreign-payment headaches.

📱
A prompt straight to your phoneEnter your mobile-money number, confirm the prompt, done — no USSD codes to remember. In Kenya that's an M-Pesa STK push.
⚡
Instant confirmation under 60 secondsPayment confirmed, receipt to your phone, host notified — in under a minute.
💚
Money goes straight to the hostPaid direct to the host's own mobile-money till, Paybill or merchant account in their country — Tenari never holds your funds.
🗓️
Book now or pay laterPay instantly, or reserve and settle with the host later. Your choice.
↩️ Refunds are arranged directly between host and guest.
Booking Summary
Secure checkout
Luxury Penthouse — Kilimani
📍 Nairobi · Entire apartment
KES 9,500 / night
KES 9,500 × 2 nightsKES 19,000
Cleaning feeKES 500
Platform feeKES 0 · always free
Total
KES 19,500
…or reserve now & pay the host later
Real-time sync

Check-out here. Booked there.

When a host checks a guest out, the unit appears on shortstayskenya.com AND on their webpage. When a guest checks in, it disappears from both. Zero manual work.

→

Guest checks out

Host clicks "check out" in their TENari dashboard at end of stay.

→
✓

Auto-published

Unit appears as bookable on both sites within seconds.

shortstayskenya.com Live · Bookable
host.shortstayskenya.com Live · Bookable
→
●

Guest checks in

Unit disappears from both surfaces. Calendar locks the dates.

Where East Africans stay

From coast to conservancy.

The places that define Kenyan hospitality — with Kampala, Dar, Kigali, Bujumbura, Juba and Khartoum just above.

Diani Beach

Diani Beach

Kwale County · Airbnb villas, hotels, hostels
Nairobi

Nairobi

Airbnb apartments, boutique hotels
Lamu Old Town

Lamu Island

Swahili stone houses
Naivasha

Naivasha

Lakefront cottages, lodges
Watamu

Watamu

Coral garden villas
Now onboarding across East Africa

List your property in your country.

Seven countries, one platform. The first hosts in each city get their webpage set up free and a hand with their mobile-money merchant application. Pick your country to see what's needed.

KEKenyaM-Pesa · KES UGUgandaMTN MoMo · Airtel · UGX TZTanzaniaM-Pesa · Tigo Pesa · TZS RWRwandaMTN MoMo · Airtel · RWF BIBurundiLumicash · EcoCash · BIF SSSouth SudanMTN MoMo · m-Gurush · SSP SDSudanBank · wallets · SDG

Somewhere else in Africa? Tell us your country on WhatsApp — we're expanding continent-wide.

For hosts

Your Airbnb stays. Your domain. Your direct bookings.

Every host gets their own branded webpage on Short Stays Kenya — a public website showing only their listings, with their logo, photos and pricing. Share it on WhatsApp, on Instagram, on your business card. Send guests direct.

🔒
https://karibu-villas.shortstayskenya.com
  • ✓ Your own webpage, live in under a minute
  • ✓ Real-time availability synced from your TENari dashboard
  • ✓ Guests book and pay you direct — M-Pesa, MTN MoMo or Airtel Money straight to your till
  • ✓ Same listings auto-appear on shortstayskenya.com (umbrella reach)
  • ✓ Clickable WhatsApp + Google Maps location pill per unit
  • ✓ Optional custom domain (yourbrand.com) on Premium tier
See a live preview
🔒karibu-villas.shortstayskenya.com

Karibu Villas Diani

Diani Beach · 4 properties
Beachfront Suite
KES 8,500/night
Available
Ocean View 2BR
KES 12,000/night
Available
Garden Cottage
KES 6,200/night
Booked
Family Villa
KES 14,500/night
Available
Host onboarding

What you'll need to get started.

Under 30 minutes from sign-up to your first listing live — if you have everything ready.

01

Business details

Your business or trading name (will appear as your webpage), contact phone (WhatsApp), email, and physical location of your properties.

02

Property photos

5-10 high-quality photos per unit: interior shots (bedrooms, living, kitchen, bathroom) and exterior (entrance, view, pool/garden). We provide guidance on shot list and lighting.

03

Unit descriptions

Per-unit: name, type, sleeps how many, bedrooms, beds, bathrooms, key amenities (Wi-Fi, AC, kitchen, parking, pool), house rules.

04

Pricing

Nightly rate (in your local currency), weekend pricing, weekly discount, cleaning fee, minimum nights. Adjust per season — TENari handles dynamic pricing automatically once you set rules.

05

Mobile-money merchant credentials

Kenya: your paybill or till number plus Daraja consumer key + secret. Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan: MTN MoMo or Airtel Money merchant code. Tanzania: Vodacom M-Pesa merchant. Burundi & Sudan: bank or wallet merchant details. Don't have them yet? We help you apply during onboarding (~1-3 weeks). Listings show "Contact direct" until activated.

06

Location pin per unit

Google Maps coordinates or pinned location for each property. Guests get a clickable location pill on your webpage that opens directly in their maps app.

07

House rules & cancellation policy

Check-in/check-out times, smoking, pets, parties, additional guests. Pick from preset cancellation policies or write your own. We make it clear to guests at booking.

08

Branding (optional)

Your logo and primary color for your webpage. Defaults to TENari branding if you skip — you can add yours anytime.

Self-service · 24/7

Your guests help themselves — on WhatsApp.

The moment a booking is confirmed, your guest gets an automatic WhatsApp welcome — no app to download. Everything is handled for them; you only step in when you want to.

  • 1
    Booked → instant welcome. A WhatsApp menu arrives with their booking and every self-service option.
  • 2
    They tap, they get answered. Instantly, from the details you set up in the app — directions & a map pin, check-in time, Wi-Fi & door code, request cleaning, extend their stay.
  • 3
    Entry details, released safely. The door code and Wi-Fi are shared only after check-in, or by your release rule.
  • 4
    You stay in control. Anything the assistant can't do is handed to you, and the guest is told a person will reply.
  • 5
    Talk to host, any time. Whenever a guest needs something beyond self-service, they message the host directly in the same chat — and every message is logged in the app under Communications, with a full delivery record.
9:415G ▸ 100%
🏡
Luxe Stays Diani
business account · online
⋮
👋 Karibu, Wanjiru! Welcome to Luxe Stays Diani — Unit B2 · 14–17 Oct. Tap an option any time.9:41
🛎️ How can we help?
📄 My booking
📍 Directions & map
🕑 Check-in time
📶 Wi-Fi & door code
🧹 Request cleaning
📅 Extend my stay
⭐ Leave a review
💬 Talk to host
⬇️ Tap to choose
📍 Directions & map9:42 ✓✓
Type a message…
➤
9:435G ▸ 100%
🏡
Luxe Stays Diani
business account · online
⋮
Diani Beach, Kenya
📍 Luxe Stays — Diani Beach
Tap to open in Google Maps ↗
🏡 Blue gate after the Total station. 🅿️ Parking: Bay C2.9:43
📶 Wi-Fi & door code9:44 ✓✓
📶 Luxe_A1 · 🔒 pass1234 · 🚪 Door 4729. Keypad on the right.9:44
🧹 Request cleaning9:45 ✓✓
Noted! 🧹 Housekeeping will come by — what time suits you?9:45
Type a message…
➤
A mockup of the real self-service flow — the menu (left) and automated replies: the Diani map pin, door code & Wi-Fi, and a cleaning request (right).
💬

Guest receives WhatsApp

On booking, the welcome menu is sent automatically. The guest never installs anything — it lands in the WhatsApp chat they already use.

⚡

Answers in seconds

Every tap is answered live from your own details — directions, the bill, cleaning, or extending a stay.

🔒

Safe & in your control

Door codes and Wi-Fi release after check-in. Anything the assistant can't do is passed to you.

WhatsApp magic

Vacancy broadcast in one tap

When a guest checks out, Short Stays Kenya auto-composes a vacancy message with your photos, available dates, price, and a direct booking link. Share to 2 WhatsApp groups in one tap — reach hundreds of guests instantly.

🔔
Auto-triggered on checkout
The moment a guest checks out, your vacancy message is ready to share — no manual work.
📸
Photos + booking link included
Your best photos, the price, and a direct link guests can book from (M-Pesa or pay later).
👥
Share to 2 groups of your choice
Property groups, referral networks, estate groups — wherever your future guests are.
Powered by TENari

List once. Earn more. Stop paying commissions.

TENari is the property management system behind Short Stays Kenya. Manage your bookings, payments, statutory compliance and reporting in one place — and get free distribution on shortstayskenya.com as part of your subscription.

Preview your site

Powered by TENari — the property software behind Short Stays Kenya. Already onboarded? Open the app →

Blog · Guides

Know before you go.

Where to stay, what it costs, and how to book direct — written by people who know these places.

See all guides →
🏙️

Best areas to stay in Nairobi

Which neighbourhood fits your trip — business, a long weekend, or a family stay.

Read guide →
🏖️

Where to stay in Diani Beach

Central, Galu or Tiwi — how the stretches differ and who each one suits.

Read guide →
💰

What a short stay in Kenya costs

Honest 2026 price ranges, from city apartments to safari camps.

Read guide →
UG

Where to stay in Kampala

Kololo, Naguru, Bugolobi or Muyenga — which hill suits business, nightlife or a quiet week.

Read guide →
RW

Where to stay in Kigali

Kiyovu, Kimihurura, Nyarutarama — the neighbourhoods that work for conferences, families and long stays.

Read guide →
TZ

Where to stay in Zanzibar

Stone Town, Nungwi, Paje or Kendwa — how the coasts differ and when to go.

Read guide →
FAQ

Questions, answered honestly.

If something's not clear, talk to us on WhatsApp.

Is Short Stays Kenya live? +
Yes — it's live. Hosts already have their own booking pages and travellers book direct today. We're actively onboarding more boutique hotels, hostels, short-stay (Airbnb-style) operators and holiday-rental hosts across Nairobi, the coast and the Rift Valley — and across East Africa. List your property and you can be live within 24 hours.
Do you work outside Kenya? Which countries are bookable? +
Yes. Short Stays Kenya and its sister brand Short Stays Africa (shortstaysafrica.com) are bookable in seven countries today: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Sudan. Hosts list the same way everywhere — sign up for TENari, connect your local mobile-money or bank merchant account, publish. Guests pay in local currency with the mobile money they already use: M-Pesa (Kenya, Tanzania), MTN MoMo and Airtel Money (Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan), Lumicash/EcoCash (Burundi), or bank transfer and wallets (Sudan). More African countries are being added — see the East Africa hub or ask us on WhatsApp.
How is this different from Airbnb or Booking.com? +
Three real differences: (1) We don't take 15-20% from hosts — they keep their pricing and we charge a subscription instead. (2) Payments go direct from guest to host via M-Pesa STK push. We never hold your money. (3) We're built specifically for East Africa — local languages, local currencies, local mobile money (M-Pesa, MTN MoMo, Airtel Money), WhatsApp, and each country's statutory compliance. Not a foreign tool with an African skin.
How do payments work? Where does my money go? +
When you book, a mobile-money prompt arrives on your phone for the host's merchant account — an M-Pesa STK push in Kenya or Tanzania, an MTN MoMo or Airtel Money request in Uganda, Rwanda or South Sudan, and so on. Funds go directly to the host — Short Stays Kenya never touches the money. The host gets paid in seconds. You get a mobile-money receipt as confirmation.
I'm a property owner — how do I get listed? +
Sign up for TENari (our property management system). Pick the plan that matches your property type. Connect your merchant credentials (M-Pesa Daraja in Kenya; MTN MoMo, Airtel Money or your bank elsewhere). Choose your webpage. Publish your units. They appear immediately on your webpage AND on the shortstayskenya.com / shortstaysafrica.com umbrella. Total time: under 30 minutes if you have your merchant credentials ready.
What if I don't have merchant (Daraja / MoMo) credentials yet? +
To accept direct online payments you need a merchant account with your local mobile-money provider — a Safaricom Daraja paybill or till in Kenya, an MTN MoMo or Airtel Money merchant code in Uganda, Rwanda or South Sudan, Vodacom M-Pesa in Tanzania, and so on. Applications typically take 1-3 weeks — we help you with it. In the meantime, listings show "Contact host directly" and you take bookings via WhatsApp + manual mobile-money. Once your merchant account is approved, online bookings activate automatically.
How do I add photos to my webpage? +
Photos are sent to us via WhatsApp during onboarding — 5-10 photos per unit, ideally 1200px wide or larger. We review for quality, lightly edit if needed, and upload them to your webpage within 24 hours. Once your listings are live, the same photos appear automatically on the shortstayskenya.com umbrella. Later this year, TENari dashboard will get a self-service photo uploader so you can drag-drop photos and have them appear instantly on both surfaces — no waiting for us.
What does it cost to list? +
TENari subscription pricing depends on your plan and tier. Public listings on shortstayskenya.com are included in every subscription — no separate fee, no per-booking commission. Tiers range from IRON (small operators) to PLATINUM_PLUS (large multi-property). Talk to us on WhatsApp for current pricing.
Karibu

East Africa's home for short stays

Join hosts and guests across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Sudan making the most of the region's growing short-stay market — with the rest of Africa next. Pay with mobile money, find a home, enjoy. Lipa, pata nyumba, furahia.

Find a Stay Now List Your Property

No registration fees · Kenya-wide listings

Talk to us