How to Schedule Food Delivery in Advance in Nairobi (Step by Step)

To schedule food delivery in advance on Qavaeat, pick the days you want meals, choose a delivery pool, select dishes from partner kitchens and confirm with an M-Pesa STK push. You can schedule one to seven days ahead, order as few as two meals in a week, and change any meal until 10:00 PM the night before.

Pre-ordering lunch sounds like a lot of planning. It is actually less effort than choosing a meal every day, because you do it once. Here is the full process, with the cut-offs that trip people up.

Before you start

• A phone with M-Pesa. Payment is by STK push.
• A delivery address, and a gate or entrance note if you are in an estate or secured building.
• You do not need an account. You can preview menus and check out as a guest with your phone number and delivery gate location. [CONFIRM guest checkout is still live.]

Step 1: Choose your days

Open the planner and select the days you want meals. You can schedule as few as two meals in a week to test the service, or plan all seven days. You can schedule between one and seven days ahead.

Step 2: Pick your delivery pool

Choose the window when you want to eat: 12:00–12:40 PM, 1:00–1:40 PM, 2:00–2:40 PM or 3:00–3:40 PM for lunch. Remember the cut-off: pre-orders close 45 minutes before the window starts, so the 1:00 PM pool closes at 12:15 PM.

A useful rule: pick the pool that finishes a little before your real deadline. If you have a 2:00 PM meeting, the 12:00 or 1:00 PM pool leaves room for traffic and gate delays.

Step 3: Choose your meals

Browse dishes from partner chefs and restaurants. A few things to know:

• Meals range from KES 450 to KES 850 per portion.
• You can choose a different kitchen and dish every day.
• Dishes carry dietary tags (for example vegetarian, vegan, keto, halal). Check the tags rather than assuming.
• Portions scale from single containers to four-person family packs.

Step 4: Confirm delivery details

Add your address and any gate instructions. For secured estates and offices, name a person to call if the rider is stuck at the gate.

Step 5: Pay with M-Pesa

Tap confirm. An M-Pesa STK prompt appears on your phone. Enter your PIN to approve, and your week is paid. You never type in card numbers.

Step 6: Change it if your week changes

You can pause or swap any scheduled meal until 10:00 PM the evening before the delivery day. The payment is credited toward your next order or refunded to M-Pesa. [CONFIRM credit-or-refund wording matches the live policy.]

Common mistakes

Missing the cut-off. Set a phone reminder for 15 minutes before your pool closes.

Choosing a pool too close to a meeting. Leave a buffer.

Forgetting the gate note. The most common cause of a delayed handover is a rider who cannot get in.

Assuming every dish suits every diet. Read the tags.

Who scheduling suits, and who it doesn’t

Good fit: people who eat prepared meals three to five or more times a week.

Not ideal if: you only order food occasionally on impulse, or you cannot commit to a 40-minute arrival window. For right-now meals, use an instant order instead.

Frequently asked questions

How far ahead can I schedule food delivery? You can schedule meals one to seven days ahead, up to the cut-off for your chosen delivery pool.

What is the minimum order for a weekly plan? There is no long-term contract. You can schedule as few as two meals in a week.

What time must I order by? Pre-orders close 45 minutes before each pool begins. For example, the 12:00 PM pool closes at 11:15 AM.

Can I change my scheduled meals? Yes. You can pause or swap any scheduled meal until 10:00 PM the evening before delivery.

Do I need an account to schedule? No. You can preview menus and check out as a guest using your phone number and delivery gate location.

Can I order from different chefs in one week? Yes. In a weekly plan you can choose a different kitchen and dish every day.

Related reading:
- Pause, swap, cancel: how flexible should a meal plan be?
- How M-Pesa payment works
- What is a delivery pool?

CTA: Plan my week.