Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction and Acceptance

Welcome to Connections Kenya ("Connections", "we", "us", "our"), a service marketplace platform operated by Connections Kenya Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Kenya (Companies Act, Cap 486). Our platform is accessible via ajirabiashara.co.ke and related mobile applications.

By accessing, registering on, or using the Connections platform, you ("User", "you", "your") confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, our Privacy Policy, and all applicable Kenyan laws and regulations. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you must not use our platform.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Connections Kenya Limited, and are governed by the laws of the Republic of Kenya.

2. Definitions

• "Platform" means the Connections website, mobile application, and all related services.
• "Service Provider" means any individual or business that lists a service on the Platform.
• "Customer" means any user who browses, searches, or contacts Service Providers on the Platform.
• "Listing" means a service advertisement posted by a Service Provider.
• "Subscription" means the monthly fee paid by Service Providers to maintain an active Listing.
• "Verified Badge" means the verified status awarded to Service Providers who complete our KYC verification process.
• "Sponsorship" means a paid promotional arrangement for enhanced visibility of a Listing.

3. Eligibility

To use the Connections Platform, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in your jurisdiction under Kenyan law.
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract under the Law of Contract Act (Cap 23, Laws of Kenya).
• Possess a valid Kenyan phone number for payment purposes.
• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration.
• Not be prohibited from using our services under applicable Kenyan law.

If you are registering on behalf of a business, you warrant that you have authority to bind that business to these Terms.

4. Account Registration and Security

4.1 You must provide accurate information when creating an account, including your real name, valid email address, and phone number.

4.2 You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. You must immediately notify us at support@ajirabiashara.co.ke if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.

4.3 You may not create multiple accounts, impersonate any person or entity, or use false identities.

4.4 We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, provide false information, or engage in fraudulent activity.

4.5 Profile pictures must be genuine photos of yourself. Misleading or inappropriate profile images will result in account suspension.

5. Service Provider Listings

5.1 Listing Fee: Service Providers must pay a non-refundable listing fee of KES 300 per month (or such other amount as specified) to activate a Listing. Listings are subject to approval by Connections before going live.

5.2 Content Accuracy: Service Providers warrant that all information in their Listings is accurate, truthful, and not misleading. False or fraudulent Listings will be removed without refund.

5.3 Approval Process: All Listings are reviewed by our team before activation. Connections reserves the right to approve, reject, or request modifications to any Listing at its sole discretion.

5.4 Prohibited Listings: You may not list services that are illegal under Kenyan law, including but not limited to unlicensed medical procedures, illegal financial services, or any services that violate the Consumer Protection Act, 2012.

5.5 Work Uploads: You may upload up to 3 proof-of-work files (images, videos up to 50MB, or documents). All uploaded content must be your original work or work you have rights to display.

5.6 Editing and Deletion: Service Providers may edit or remove their Listings at any time. Removal does not entitle you to a refund of the subscription fee.

5.7 Subscription Renewal: Subscriptions must be renewed monthly. Expired subscriptions result in Listings being deactivated until renewed.

6. Payments and Fees

6.1 All payments on the Platform are processed in Kenyan Shillings (KES) via M-PESA (Safaricom's mobile money service) through our payment processor, IntaSend.

6.2 STK Push Payments: You authorize us to initiate M-PESA payment requests to your registered phone number. By providing your phone number, you consent to receive payment prompts.

6.3 Manual Payments: Alternatively, payments may be made via M-PESA Buy Goods to our designated Till Number. Manual payments require confirmation details (M-PESA registered name and phone number) and are subject to verification by our team.

6.4 Fee Schedule:

• Monthly Listing Fee: KES 300
• Annual Verification Fee: KES 1,500
• Sponsorship – Daily: KES 100
• Sponsorship – Weekly: KES 500
• Sponsorship – Monthly: KES 1,500

6.5 Refund Policy: All fees paid to Connections are non-refundable unless otherwise required by applicable Kenyan consumer protection law. In cases of technical errors causing duplicate charges, contact us within 7 days for a review.

6.6 Taxes: All fees are inclusive of applicable taxes including Value Added Tax (VAT) at the prevailing rate as set by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

6.7 Payment Disputes: Disputes regarding payments should be directed to support@ajirabiashara.co.ke within 30 days of the transaction.

7. Verified Provider Program

7.1 Eligibility: Any Service Provider may apply for Verified status by submitting the required KYC (Know Your Customer) documents and paying the annual verification fee of KES 1,500.

7.2 Required Documents: Verification requires submission of:

• Valid Kenyan National ID Card or Passport
• Business Registration Certificate (where applicable)
• A clear selfie/photo for identity confirmation

7.3 Verification Process: Our team reviews submitted documents and approves or rejects applications within 72 hours. Approval is at our sole discretion.

7.4 Verified Badge: Approved providers receive a Verified badge on all their Listings. The badge remains valid for 12 months from approval date and must be renewed annually.

7.5 Document Storage: Submitted documents are stored securely and handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the Data Protection Act, 2019 of Kenya.

7.6 Revocation: We reserve the right to revoke Verified status if a provider violates these Terms or if submitted documents are found to be fraudulent.

8. Sponsorships and Promoted Listings

8.1 Service Providers may purchase Sponsorship packages to promote their Listings. Sponsored Listings receive enhanced visibility across the Platform.

8.2 Sponsorship does not guarantee a specific number of contacts, views, or job completions.

8.3 Sponsored content is clearly labeled as "Sponsored" to comply with applicable advertising standards and the Competition Act, 2010 of Kenya.

8.4 Sponsorship fees are non-refundable once the sponsorship period has commenced.

9. User Conduct and Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent information.
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users.
• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose under Kenyan law.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Platform.
• Scrape, crawl, or copy Platform data without written permission.
• Post content that infringes intellectual property rights.
• Solicit payment from Customers outside the Platform to avoid fees.
• Create fake reviews or manipulate ratings.
• Impersonate Connections staff or other users.
• Upload malicious software or harmful code.
• Violate the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018 of Kenya.

10. Intellectual Property

10.1 All content on the Connections Platform, including logos, design, software, and text, is owned by Connections Kenya Limited and protected under the Copyright Act (Cap 130, Laws of Kenya).

10.2 By uploading content (photos, descriptions, etc.), you grant Connections a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to display, use, and promote that content on the Platform.

10.3 You retain ownership of content you upload. You warrant that you have the right to share such content and that it does not infringe any third-party rights.

11. Limitation of Liability

11.1 Connections is a marketplace platform. We do not employ Service Providers and are not responsible for the quality, safety, or legality of services offered.

11.2 To the maximum extent permitted by Kenyan law, Connections shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from use of the Platform.

11.3 Our total liability to you shall not exceed the amount you have paid to us in the 3 months preceding the relevant claim.

11.4 Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for fraud, death, or personal injury caused by our negligence, or any other liability that cannot be excluded under the Consumer Protection Act, 2012.

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Informal Resolution: We encourage users to first attempt to resolve disputes informally by contacting support@ajirabiashara.co.ke.

12.2 Mediation: Disputes not resolved informally within 30 days may be referred to mediation under the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration rules.

12.3 Governing Law: These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of Kenya. The courts of Nairobi shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes.

13. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violations of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or where required by law. You may deactivate your account at any time by contacting us. Upon termination, your access to the Platform ceases, but these Terms remain enforceable to the extent applicable.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms periodically. We will notify you of significant changes via email or a prominent notice on the Platform. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

15. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms, contact us:

• Email: legal@ajirabiashara.co.ke
• Support: support@ajirabiashara.co.ke
• WhatsApp: +254 700 000 000
• Address: Connections Kenya Limited, Nairobi, Kenya