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Systems & Software16 October 2026 6 min read
Accounting Software in Kenya: Examples and How to Pick One That Works With eTIMS
QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, Zoho Books, Odoo and local systems are all used in Kenya. Here's how they compare on what matters locally: eTIMS, M-Pesa, VAT and payroll, and how to choose.
Accounting software keeps your books, but in Kenya it also has to work with KRA. Since KRA only allows expenses backed by eTIMS invoices, the right software is the one that fits eTIMS and M-Pesa into your daily routine.
Accounting software examples in Kenya
- QuickBooks Online and Xero: cloud, priced per month in dollars, strong with accountants
- Sage: long-established in Kenya, desktop and cloud versions
- Zoho Books: affordable cloud option with invoicing and inventory
- Odoo and ERPNext: open-source suites with accounting plus stock and sales
- Local billing and invoicing systems built for eTIMS and M-Pesa
What to check for Kenya
- eTIMS: can it issue eTIMS invoices directly, or through a certified integrator?
- M-Pesa: can it import till or paybill statements and match them?
- VAT returns and withholding tax reports that match iTax
- Payroll with SHIF, Housing Levy, NSSF and PAYE, or a clean link to a payroll tool
- An accountant near you who knows the software
Billing software vs accounting software
Many small businesses don't need full accounting software yet. They need billing software: quotes, invoices, receipts, M-Pesa matching and eTIMS. The accountant can then do the books from clean data. That's often the cheapest first step.
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Antony Mungai
Founder, Steff Cloud — building websites, systems and automation for Kenyan businesses from Nakuru.