How to Buy Music and Beats Online in Kenya with M-Pesa
13 Oct 2026 · Updated 18 Oct 2026 · 3 min read
Short answer: on Ziki you open the track, tap Buy, enter your name and email, and pay with M-Pesa or a card. The download is ready as soon as the payment goes through. You don't need an account to buy.
A lot of independent Kenyan music is free to stream, and much of it stays free. When an artist puts a price on a track, it's usually small, and most of it goes to the person who made it.
Step by step
- Open the track page and tap Buy. The price is shown in KES. Paid tracks play a 30-second preview, so you can hear what you're buying.
- Enter your name and email. If you're logged in, these are filled in for you.
- Choose how much to pay. The price is the minimum, and you can pay more if you want to back the artist.
- Pay with M-Pesa or a card in the secure checkout window. For M-Pesa, enter your number and approve the prompt that appears on your phone with your PIN.
- Download your track straight away.
What does music cost on Ziki?
Artists set their own prices, from Ksh 50. Songs often cost Ksh 50 to Ksh 100. Beats for artists to record on cost more, often a few thousand shillings, because you're buying a licence to release your own song, not just a copy to listen to. Browse everything for sale in the Ziki Marketplace, or just the beats.
What you get when you buy
| A song | A beat | |
|---|---|---|
| File | The MP3 the artist uploaded | The MP3 the producer uploaded |
| You can | Listen on your own devices | Record and release one song on it, up to 100,000 streams and sales, plus one video |
| You can't | Re-upload, resell or use it in your own releases | Resell the beat or claim it as yours |
| Licence | Personal Use Licence | Standard Non-Exclusive Licence |
We explain beat licences in What Is a Beat Lease?, and the full wording is on the licence page.
Paying safely
- Only pay inside the checkout window on ziki.co.ke. Ziki will never ask you to send money to a personal number.
- Enter your M-Pesa PIN only on your own phone, in the official M-Pesa prompt. Nobody from Ziki will ask for it.
- Keep the M-Pesa confirmation message until your download is safely saved.
Finding your purchases later
If you bought while logged in, your tracks are listed in your Library under Purchased, so you can download them again on a new phone. If you bought as a guest, keep the email address you used. That's how we find your purchase if you need help.
If something goes wrong
If M-Pesa took the money but the download didn't appear, don't pay again. Email sales@ziki.co.ke with the M-Pesa confirmation code, the email you used and the track's name, and we'll sort it out. Digital downloads are final once delivered, so listen to the preview before you buy.
Why buy when you can stream?
A stream earns an artist very little. One Ksh 50 purchase can be worth more to an independent artist than hundreds of plays. If a song is on repeat for you, buying it is the most direct support you can give.
Make music yourself? You can sell your own songs and beats on Ziki and get paid to M-Pesa.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay for music with M-Pesa?
Yes. Every paid track on Ziki can be bought with M-Pesa or a card at checkout. Prices are in KES.
How much does a song cost?
The artist sets the price. At the time of writing, Mbulu by Deniro Ule Wah featuring Boutross and Champagne by Bonky.J are KES 50, and Mbona by Syllent Killah and Shash by Yung Pharaoh featuring Bruce are KES 100.
Do I need an account to buy music?
No. You can check out as a guest with your name and email. With a free account, your purchases are saved in your Library under Purchased so you can download them again.
Can I pay more than the price?
Yes. The listed price is the minimum. You can choose a higher amount at checkout if you want to give the artist more.
What if I paid but didn't get the download?
Don't pay again. Email sales@ziki.co.ke with your M-Pesa confirmation code and the email you used, and we'll get you your track.