SMS Surveys in Kenya (2026)
How to run two-way SMS feedback that gets answers
A guide to running SMS surveys in Kenya: two-way flows, branching questions, response rates, real-time analytics, and CAK/ODPC compliance — using MobiWave's bundled SMS, USSD and WhatsApp channels.
Last updated August 2026
SMS surveys reach every Kenyan phone, including feature phones with no data — so response rates beat email, especially outside major cities. This guide covers how to design, send and analyze them compliantly.
Before you start
A CAK-registered sender ID (MobiWave handles it)
Consent / opt-in for the audience you survey
Short, single-topic questions
Branching plan for follow-ups
Reminder strategy for non-responders
Plan for ODPC-aligned data handling
How to do it in Kenya
A practical, compliance-aware walkthrough you can follow today.
Register your sender ID
MobiWave registers your CAK-aligned sender ID on Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom at no extra admin fee, so surveys arrive from a trusted name.
Design the survey
Build single-choice, rating, NPS or open-text questions with branching so later questions depend on earlier answers.
Send and collect
Dispatch to a segmented list over two-way SMS. Responses stream back in real time and post to your webhook.
Remind non-responders
Automated nudges re-message people who haven’t replied, lifting completion without manual chasing.
Analyze
Track completion, distributions and drop-off in the dashboard; export CSV or wire into BI tools.
Act and bundle
Trigger follow-ups from results and combine surveys with bulk SMS, USSD and WhatsApp on one account.
How the options compare
The factors that matter for a Kenyan organisation deciding between providers.
| Factor | MobiWave | Africa's Talking | Celcom Africa | Twilio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-way SMS surveys | Included | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
| Branching / skip logic | Yes | DIY via API | DIY | DIY |
| Sender ID registration | Free, handled for you | KES 7,000 / network | KES 7,000 / network | Via aggregator |
| Real-time analytics | Dashboard + webhook | API only | API only | API only |
| Local 24/7 support | Phone + WhatsApp | Developer-only | Business hours | No local team |
All support two-way SMS surveys. MobiWave bundles surveys with SMS, USSD and WhatsApp and handles CAK sender-ID registration at no admin fee.
SMS Surveys in Kenya (2026) questions, answered.
The practical questions Kenyan organisations ask about sms surveys in kenya (2026), with straight answers and KES pricing where it applies.
Still have a question? Talk to us →You pay per SMS sent and received at MobiWave’s standard bulk SMS rate (KES 0.20–0.35 by volume), with no extra fee for the survey tooling. No setup fees — contact us for volume pricing.
Related resources
Talk to our team about the fastest, compliant path for your organisation.