FAQ
Questions about running errands in Nairobi
Everything people ask before posting their first errand. If yours is not here, sign in and message us — every account can.
- What is CityErrands?
- CityErrands is a Nairobi errand service. You post the job — a pickup, a purchase, a queue, a delivery — and a vetted runner carries it out and reports back. It covers the errands that need a person in Nairobi rather than a courier or an app.
- How much does an errand cost in Nairobi?
- Errands start at KES 300 for a pickup and delivery and go up with the work involved, to KES 3,000 for hiring a runner for a job that takes time. You see the full price before you post, and errands to or from an address outside our named areas are quoted by admin first.
- How do I pay?
- You pay once the errand is done, not before. When the runner completes it you get an SMS with the amount and where to send it — an M-Pesa till, or the runner directly by M-Pesa or cash.
- Which parts of Nairobi do you cover?
- Nairobi CBD, Gikomba, Kamukunji and Eastleigh are our named areas with set prices. Anywhere else in Nairobi is still possible: pick 'Custom location' when posting and admin quotes the job before a runner is sent.
- Do I need a smartphone or an app to use it?
- No app to install. The site works in any phone browser, you sign up with your phone number and a PIN, and the important updates also come by SMS.
- Can I use CityErrands from outside Kenya?
- Yes, and many clients do. You post the errand from wherever you are, the runner does the work in Nairobi, and the goods go to whichever Nairobi address you name. Verifying a seller before you send money is the errand diaspora clients use most.
- How are runners vetted?
- Runners are onboarded by admin rather than signing themselves up. Every completed errand is rated by the client, and a runner's rating and completed-job count are visible when you choose one.
- Can I choose which runner does my errand?
- Yes. When you post an errand you can name a preferred runner, which is what most regular clients do once they have found someone they trust.
- How do I know what is happening with my errand?
- You get an SMS when the runner starts and another when it is complete, the status updates live on your errand page, and you can message the runner in the app while the job is under way.
- Can one errand have several stops?
- Yes. Mark the errand as multi-stop when you post it and describe the round in the instructions. A multi-stop fee is added to the price you see before you confirm.
- Can I book an errand for a later date?
- Yes. Instead of sending it out immediately you can schedule it for a date and time, which is what you want for a gift on a birthday or an office that only opens certain hours.
- What happens if something goes wrong on an errand?
- The runner messages you from where they are rather than guessing — a shop out of stock, a counter refusing a document, an item that is not what was described. You decide what happens next, and you are not paying for a completed errand until it is completed.
Ready to hand over the running around?
Create an account with your phone number and a PIN, post the errand, and a runner picks it up from there.