Where to Sell Used Electronics in Kenya (2026 Guide)

Most Kenyan homes have at least one gadget gathering dust: an old phone in a drawer, a laptop replaced last year, a PlayStation nobody touches since the kids left for campus. All of it has resale value, and Kenya's second-hand electronics market is busy enough to find a buyer for almost anything. The question is where, because the right place to sell a phone is not the right place to sell a fridge.

This guide covers where to sell each type of device, what to expect in payment, how to wipe your data properly, and how to avoid the scams that target sellers.

The Quick Answer: Where to Sell What

The same rule applies across every category. A private sale pays the most but takes effort. A shop pays least but pays today. The gap is the shop's margin, because it has to inspect, repair and resell your device at a profit.

Phones and Tablets: Mzuri

Phones and tablets are the easiest electronics to sell in Kenya, because demand never stops. Mzuri is a marketplace built only for phones and tablets. Listings are free, there is no commission when you sell, and buyers from all 47 counties contact you directly on WhatsApp or by phone.

Selling on a phone-only marketplace means everyone browsing is already shopping for a device like yours. You can also check what similar phones and tablets are listed for before setting your price, or use the free valuation on the sell page for a realistic range.

If you'd rather not deal with buyers, phone shops such as Phone Place Kenya and Apple authorised service providers run trade-in schemes, though you will get less, and some give store credit only. Our guides to where to sell your used phone and where to sell a used tablet or iPad in Kenya compare the trade-in options in detail, and how trade-ins work explains what happens at the counter.

Laptops and MacBooks

Laptops sell well in Kenya, especially to students and people working remotely. You have three routes.

Private sale. Jiji's laptop section in Nairobi alone carries tens of thousands of listings, and Facebook groups for buying and selling laptops in Nairobi are busy. A private sale usually gets you the best price.

Laptop buyers. Several Nairobi businesses buy used, broken and dead laptops, including Nairobi UltraBooks at Jamia Mall on Kigali Road, Deprime Solutions and Mobiloop. Some pay by M-Pesa, cash or bank transfer within 48 hours of receiving the device. Expect to be asked for your national ID, original and a photocopy, and often the receipt, as these buyers try to avoid stolen goods.

Walk-in shops. Tech shops along Luthuli Avenue and Moi Avenue give an immediate cash offer, but these shops typically pay only around 40 to 55% of the retail price. That's worth it only when you need money today.

MacBooks hold their value best. Apple silicon models such as the MacBook Air M1 and M2 have strong demand at around KSh 60,000 to 90,000 depending on condition and specification. Business laptops such as HP EliteBooks, Dell Latitudes and Lenovo ThinkPads also sell steadily, since many buyers trust them for durability.

Before selling a laptop:

• Windows: back up your files, sign out of your Microsoft account, then go to Settings, System, Recovery, and choose Reset this PC with the Remove everything option.
• Mac: sign out of your Apple Account (this turns off Find My and Activation Lock), then use Erase All Content and Settings. A Mac still linked to your Apple Account is useless to the buyer.

Game Consoles

Consoles have an active market in Nairobi, with thousands of listings on Jiji. Most of the visible listings come from dealers. For example, recent Nairobi listings showed a used PS5 Digital Edition at around KSh 52,000 and a disc PS5 with one controller at KSh 70,000. Those are dealer asking prices, so a private seller should aim a little lower to compete.

Many console listings mention that an exchange is possible, which means dealers accept swaps. If you're upgrading, a part-exchange can be a quick way to move an old console, though you'll get trade value rather than full price.

Bundles sell better than bare consoles. Include a second controller, the original box and any physical games, and say so in your title.

Before selling a console:

• PlayStation: turn off Console Sharing and Offline Play (formerly "primary console") for your account, then sign out and reset the console from Settings.
• Xbox: remove your account, then go to Settings, System, Console info, and choose Reset console with the option to remove everything.
• Nintendo Switch: sign out of your Nintendo Account and initialise the console from System Settings.

TVs, Soundbars and Home Audio

Smart TVs and sound systems sell on Jiji, Facebook Marketplace and estate WhatsApp groups. Because they are bulky, buyers are usually local, so include your estate or nearest landmark in the listing.

Buyers will want to see the TV working. Plan to show it switched on, ideally playing something bright and something dark, so they can check for dead pixels, backlight bleed or lines across the screen. Keep the remote, stand and wall bracket together, since a missing remote is one of the most common reasons buyers haggle.

Before selling a smart TV: sign out of Netflix, YouTube, Showmax and any other streaming apps, remove your Google or Samsung account, and run a factory reset from the settings menu.

Fridges, Microwaves and Household Appliances

Large appliances move best through Facebook groups dedicated to second-hand household goods, where Nairobi sellers regularly sell fridges, cookers and washing machines. Jiji also has a large home appliances section.

With big items, logistics decide the sale. Say clearly whether the buyer must collect, which floor you are on, and whether you can help arrange transport. Buyers will also want to see a fridge cooling, so switch it on well before they arrive.

Appliance repairers and second-hand dealers will often buy a working or faulty fridge outright, but at a low price.

Cameras, Lenses and Drones

Photography gear holds its value well, and buyers are often hobbyists or working photographers who know exactly what they want. Photography Facebook groups and WhatsApp communities in Kenya can find a buyer faster than a general marketplace, and Jiji works too.

List the body and lenses separately as well as a kit, since some buyers only want the lens. Include the shutter count for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras if you know it, because serious buyers will ask. Format memory cards before you hand them over, or keep them.

Smartwatches, Earbuds and Small Gadgets

Smartwatches and wireless earbuds sell on the same channels as phones. Remove them from your account first. An Apple Watch must be unpaired from your iPhone, which also removes Activation Lock, and Samsung and other watches should be removed from their companion app and reset. For hygiene, buyers expect earbuds to be cleaned, and replacement ear tips are a cheap way to make a set look cared for.

Broken or Faulty Electronics

A broken device is not worthless. Repair shops buy faulty phones, laptops and tablets for parts, because screens, batteries, boards and casings can all be reused. Several Nairobi laptop buyers specifically advertise for dead and broken machines. For phones, the Mzuri repair directory lists shops in every county, so you can ask two or three near you for an offer, and our guides to who buys dead phones and where to sell dead and broken phones in Nairobi explain what each type of buyer pays.

Before selling a broken device as it is, get a repair quote. If a cheap repair turns a parts-only phone into one that sells for full price, it's worth fixing first. The repair-or-sell calculator runs the numbers for a phone against live listings.

Beyond Repair? Recycle It Properly

Kenya generated a record 55,956 tonnes of electronic waste in 2025, and more than 90% of it bypassed formal recycling. Batteries, screens and circuit boards contain materials that harm people and soil when they are burnt or dumped.

The WEEE Centre in Utawala is a NEMA-licensed e-waste recycler, and it runs more than 100 drop-off points across the country through partners including Safaricom, TotalEnergies and Carrefour. Old phones, chargers, batteries and laptops can go in the collection boxes. Wipe any device with storage before you drop it off.

How to Price Used Electronics

There is no official price list for second-hand electronics in Kenya, so let the market tell you:

• Search current listings for the same model, storage and condition on Mzuri for phones and tablets, and on Jiji or Facebook for everything else.
• Watch for dealer prices. Many listings come from dealers selling imported "ex-UK" stock with a short warranty. As a private seller without a warranty, price a little below them.
• Adjust for condition. Scratches, a weak battery, missing accessories or a cracked screen all cut the price.
• Leave room to negotiate. Kenyan buyers expect to bargain, so add around 10% to the price you actually want. Our negotiation guide covers how to hold your price.
• List the extras. The original box, receipt, chargers, controllers and cases all add value and make buyers more confident.

For phones specifically, how much is my phone worth walks through the valuation step by step.

Write a Listing That Sells

Whatever you're selling, a good listing answers questions before they're asked:

• A specific title: brand, model, specification and condition. "Dell Latitude 5420, Core i5, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD" sells faster than "Laptop for sale".
• Daylight photos of every side, the screen switched on, any damage, and the settings or system page showing the specs.
• An honest description: age, faults, repairs, battery condition and what's included.
• Your location: estate or nearest landmark, so buyers know whether meeting is practical.

Be upfront about faults. A buyer who discovers a hidden problem at the meeting will either walk away or demand a big discount. Our guides to writing a listing that sells and taking photos that sell are written for phones, but the advice works for any gadget.

Scams That Target Sellers

Marketplace scam advice usually focuses on buyers, but sellers are targeted too:

• Fake M-Pesa messages. A "buyer" sends an SMS that looks like an M-Pesa confirmation but comes from an ordinary number. Never hand over a device until you've checked your actual balance by dialling *334# or in the M-PESA app.
• "Wrong number" reversals. After a fake payment message, you get a call asking you to send money back. Genuine reversals go through Safaricom. Call 100 to check.
• Overpayment. A buyer sends more than the agreed price and asks for the difference back. The original payment turns out to be fake or is reversed.
• Device swaps. During the inspection, someone swaps your working device for an identical dead one, then claims yours is faulty and leaves. Keep the device in view at all times.
• Fake platform agents. Anyone claiming to be from a marketplace and asking for a "verification fee" by WhatsApp is a scammer. Never share your M-Pesa PIN or an OTP.

Our guide to avoiding phone scams on Jiji and Facebook Marketplace covers these in more detail.

Meeting Buyers Safely

• Meet in daylight in a busy public place such as a mall or banking hall. For large appliances that must be collected from home, have someone else there.
• Let the buyer test the device properly. Offer your phone's hotspot so they can check Wi-Fi.
• Confirm payment in the M-PESA app before handing anything over, and check that the sender's registered name matches the buyer.
• For high-value items, a cleared bank transfer or a meeting at your bank is safer.
• For buyers in other counties, only dispatch by courier or matatu sacco parcel service once the money has cleared.

See our safety tips and the guide to meeting a buyer safely in Nairobi for more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best website to sell used electronics in Kenya? It depends on the item. For phones and tablets, Mzuri is built specifically for that market and charges no commission. For laptops, consoles, TVs and appliances, Jiji and Facebook groups have the widest reach.

Where can I sell electronics for cash quickly in Nairobi? Tech shops along Luthuli Avenue and Moi Avenue and dedicated laptop and phone buyers pay on the spot, but expect well below the private-sale price.

Do I need a receipt to sell used electronics? Not for a private sale, though it helps. Many shops and buyers ask for your national ID and sometimes a receipt to make sure the device isn't stolen.

Can I sell broken electronics? Yes. Repair shops and specialist buyers purchase faulty devices for parts. If it truly can't be repaired, take it to a WEEE Centre drop-off point for safe recycling.

How do I make sure my data is gone? Back up first, sign out of every account (Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, PlayStation, Xbox), turn off Find My or Factory Reset Protection, then do a full factory reset. For phones, our guides to backing up and wiping an Android or iPhone go step by step.

Ready to Sell?

Start with whatever is worth the most. If it's a phone or tablet, post it on Mzuri for free and reach buyers across Kenya, with no commission when it sells.