Delivery Fees in Nairobi, Explained: Why Five Lunches Can Cost More in Fees Than You Think

On Qavaeat, instant orders carry a delivery fee of KES 150–350, so five instant lunches add KES 750–1,750 a week. Meals you schedule ahead into a delivery pool have no delivery fee when your address is within 1 km of the partner kitchen; beyond 1 km a distance fee applies.

A delivery fee feels small when you pay it once. It feels very different when you add up a month of them. This post shows the maths using Qavaeat’s own fees, so you can run the same calculation on anything you order.

The maths of repeated delivery fees

Those fees are on top of the food. If your lunches average about KES 520, a KES 250 fee is nearly half again. That is why the way you order can matter as much as what you order.

Why delivery fees vary

In general, a delivery fee reflects distance, how long a courier is tied up, and how busy the system is. The details differ by provider, so we will not guess about anyone else. What matters is that you know the rule for each.

How Qavaeat’s fees work

The key condition is that the 1 km is measured from the partner kitchen to your address, and you must order ahead into a pool before the cut-off (45 minutes before the window).

Five questions to ask about any delivery fee

Is the fee fixed, or does it change with distance or demand?

Is there a service fee or small-order fee as well?

Is a tip expected, and is it in the total?

Does the price on the menu match the dine-in price?

Can I avoid the fee by ordering ahead or collecting?

How to cut your delivery bill

• Schedule instead of ordering instant whenever you can plan a day ahead.
• Choose kitchens within 1 km of your home or office.
• Order together. Colleagues ordering into the same pool lowers the number of separate trips.
• Audit last month. Go through your M-Pesa and card statements and add up delivery fees.

When paying the fee is still right

Instant orders exist for a reason. If a meeting overruns or you need food right now, paying KES 150–350 for a delivery in roughly 35–55 minutes can be sensible. The goal is not to avoid fees at all costs. It is to stop paying them by default.

Frequently asked questions

How much is delivery on Qavaeat? Instant orders cost KES 150–350 to deliver. Scheduled meals are free to deliver within 1 km of the partner kitchen, with a distance fee beyond that.

How much can delivery fees add up to? Five instant orders a week add KES 750–1,750, or KES 3,000–7,000 over four weeks.

Is delivery free if I schedule ahead? Yes, when the order is in a delivery pool and your address is within 1 km of the partner kitchen preparing it.

Can I turn an instant order into a scheduled one? Yes. Before checkout, switch from Deliver Now to an upcoming lunch pool.

Related reading:
- Free delivery within 1 km
- Instant vs scheduled delivery
- What is a delivery pool?

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