Choosing the wrong ticketing platform can cost you sales, create gate chaos, and frustrate your attendees. We've tested and compared every major option Kenyan organizers actually use.
Last updated: May 2026Let's be real: most "ticketing platform" lists you find online weren't written for Kenya. They recommend tools that don't accept M-Pesa, can't stop fake tickets, and have no local support when something goes wrong at 8pm on a Friday.
If you've ever had someone show up with a fake M-Pesa screenshot, struggled to reconcile 147 till number messages, or watched your gate line crawl because someone was reading names off a printed Excel sheet — this guide is for you.
We've broken down 6 approaches Kenyan organizers use — from manual till numbers to full platforms — and scored them honestly on what matters locally.
From the WhatsApp-screenshot crowd to fully automated platforms. We've ranked them honestly.
See how they compare on the features that matter most for Kenyan events.
| Platform / Method | M-Pesa | QR Tickets | Gate Scan | Setup Time | Fraud Protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Till Number + Screenshots | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | N/A (chaos) | None |
| Google Forms + Till | ~ | ✗ | ✗ | 30+ min | None |
| Eventbrite | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | 15 min | Good |
| Pesapal Events | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | 20+ min | Moderate |
| Ticket Sasa | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 20+ min | Good |
| LipaTix | ✓ (STK) | ✓ | ✓ (Free App) | 5 min | Best |
If you're running an event in Kenya with more than 50 attendees, the manual methods (till numbers, Google Forms) will cost you more in time, fraud, and stress than any platform fee ever could.
Among actual platforms, M-Pesa support is non-negotiable — and that eliminates Eventbrite for 95% of local events. Ticket Sasa and Pesapal Events are viable, but they come with steeper learning curves and less transparent pricing.
LipaTix exists because none of the other options truly nailed it for Kenyan organizers. STK push M-Pesa (no till numbers), fraud-proof QR tickets with a free scanner, 5-minute setup, and a dashboard that actually makes sense. For most Kenyan events — from campus parties to conferences — it's the clear winner.
Set up your event, share the link, and watch sales come in — with real tracking and zero fake tickets.
Create Your Event NowChat with us on WhatsApp — we'll help you set up in minutes.
LipaTix, Ticket Sasa, and Pesapal Events all support M-Pesa. LipaTix uses STK push — the buyer gets a prompt on their phone to enter their PIN, with no need to copy a till number. Ticket Sasa and Pesapal use paybill or till number methods. Eventbrite does not support M-Pesa at all.
Yes, Eventbrite is technically available in Kenya, but it does not accept M-Pesa. Attendees must pay via credit card or PayPal, which most Kenyan buyers don't use. For this reason, Eventbrite is generally a poor fit for events targeting local audiences.
Manual methods (till numbers, Google Forms) appear cheapest because there's no platform fee — but they cost you hours in reconciliation and increase fraud risk. Among real platforms, LipaTix offers competitive per-ticket pricing with no monthly fees and free events are completely free to run.
For small events (under 200 people), LipaTix is ideal because setup takes under 5 minutes, there are no minimum ticket requirements, and you can create free tickets at zero cost. The QR scanner app is also free, so even small events get professional gate management.
You need a platform that generates unique QR codes per ticket and provides a gate scanning app that validates each code in real-time. LipaTix includes both for free — the scanner flags duplicates instantly so no one enters twice on the same ticket.
Yes. With LipaTix, you get a single event link that you can share anywhere — WhatsApp Status, WhatsApp Groups, Instagram Bio, Facebook, SMS. Buyers tap the link, pay via M-Pesa STK push, and receive their ticket instantly. No apps to download.
