How Ahadi keeps your money safe.
No jargon. Here's exactly what happens between the moment a buyer pays and the moment a seller gets paid.
When a buyer pays, the money goes into a separate Ahadi account. The seller can see it's there, but can't touch it. Ahadi is a neutral middle-person for both sides.
Funds go to the seller when the buyer confirms they got what they paid for — or if the agreed inspection window passes with no complaint. Terms are locked at the moment of payment so no-one can quietly change the deal.
If the seller cancels, the deal expires without delivery, or a dispute is decided in the buyer's favour, the money goes back to the buyer's original payment method.
Either side can open a dispute before the inspection window closes. The money is frozen, both sides share evidence, and our team makes a fair call — release, refund, or split.
A KES 4,500 sofa cover, from DM to delivery.
Follow one deal from the buyer's WhatsApp message to the moment the seller's M-Pesa pings.
- 1The seller creates a payment link
Sofa cover, KES 4,500. Release condition: buyer confirms delivery. Inspection window: 48 hours.
- 2The buyer pays with M-Pesa
The buyer opens the link, taps Pay, gets an STK push. The KES 4,500 goes to Ahadi — the seller sees it's funded, but can't withdraw it yet.
- 3The seller ships and marks 'delivered'
This starts the 48-hour inspection window. The buyer sees a countdown.
- 4The buyer confirms — or does nothing
If the buyer taps 'I got it', funds release immediately. If the buyer stays quiet for 48 hours with no dispute, funds auto-release.
- 5The seller's M-Pesa pings
Ahadi pays out to the seller's M-Pesa (or bank), less the disclosed fee. A receipt lands in both inboxes.
Straight answers.
In a separate Ahadi account with our regulated banking partner. It's not mixed with our company money and it's not the seller's money until we release it.
Stop. That's the classic scam. If the money doesn't go through Ahadi, none of the protections on this page apply. Only pay through the official ahadi.app checkout link.
Until the inspection window closes. The seller sets it when creating the deal (commonly 24–72 hours). You'll see a live countdown once the seller marks delivered.
The Ahadi disputes team, after both sides upload evidence. We aim for a decision within five business days. If we can't tell, we usually refund the buyer.
Back to the same M-Pesa number, card, or bank account you paid from. Usually within one to three business days after we approve it.
Yes — a small service fee, shown on the checkout page before you pay. There are no hidden charges after the fact.