What Sawasawa does

SAWASAWA Limited is a privately held Kenyan custom software design and development house founded in 1991 and operating under the trade name SawaSawa.com. The company designs and delivers bespoke web-based applications for enterprise, government, and institutional clients, combining industry-specific knowledge with general technology expertise across four service lines: custom software development, software QA and testing, systems integration, and research and development / technical advisory. Its deployed portfolio includes management information systems, transport observatory dashboards, firearms and ammunition marking systems, e-commerce payment gateways, and mobile communication gateways, with solutions reportedly live in 12+ African countries.

The company is headquartered in Nairobi's Westlands district (TRV Office Plaza) and maintains additional offices in Kigali (Rwanda), Kampala (Uganda), and Accra (Ghana). Its customer base spans five primary verticals — Government, Non-Governmental Organizations, Transport & Logistics, Education, and Medical/Health & Wellness — served through direct enterprise field sales, website-driven inbound, and direct outreach via country-specific phone and email channels. Revenue mechanics are project-based, with bespoke deliverables quoted per engagement under multi-year contracts; pricing is not publicly disclosed. A separate sub-brand, Webspace (webspace.co.ke), was spun off to offer cloud, domain registration, and hosting services.

The firm is structured as a Kenyan private limited company with no disclosed venture, private equity, or institutional funding, and no public listing or ticker. Ownership is described as independent and likely founder-controlled given the 28+ year operating history, but the source material does not name founders, executives, or the management team. The most recent observable strategic moves are the Webspace spin-off and the multi-country office buildout across East and West Africa; no funding, M&A, leadership-change, or product-launch signals are present in the available data.

Name

Sawasawa

Legal name

SAWASAWA Limited

Website

https://sawasawa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAWASAWA Limited is a Nairobi-headquartered, Kenyan private software development house founded in 1991 that delivers bespoke web applications, QA, systems integration, and R&D services to government, NGO, transport, education, and healthcare clients across 12+ African countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Software Development

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Service Desk & Help Desk Services (BPAEAJAA)

Keywords

• Custom software development
• Software QA testing
• Systems integration
• Enterprise web applications
• IT consultancy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Westlands

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Software Development: One-time custom software development projects tailored to client specifications. Solutions are bespoke and project-based, delivered according to client requirements.
2. Software QA & Testing Services: Quality assurance and testing services provided as part of software development engagements or as standalone consulting services.
3. Systems Integration: Integration services connecting disparate systems, typically delivered as professional services engagements.
4. Research & Development Consulting: Technical advisory, IT audits, and feasibility assessment services provided to businesses requiring extra help with technical challenges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Sawasawa is a custom software design and development house that builds tailor-made web-based applications for organizations, including e-commerce platforms, content management systems, and enterprise portals. It also delivers complementary software QA & testing, systems integration, and R&D advisory services, with solutions deployed across 12+ African countries.

Product overview

Sawasawa is a custom software design and development house offering tailored software solutions as a unified suite of interconnected services. The core offerings include Custom Software Development (the primary service building bespoke web-based applications), Software QA & Testing (ensuring quality across all delivered solutions), Systems Integration (connecting disparate systems into intelligent networks), and Research & Development (providing technical advisory and IT audit services). A separate sub-brand, Webspace, handles cloud, domain registration, and hosting services. The company also maintains a portfolio of deployed solutions including Management Information Systems, Transport Observatory Dashboards, Firearms & Ammunition Marking Systems, E-commerce Payment Gateways, and Mobile Communication Gateways, serving clients across government, NGOs, transport & logistics, education, and medical/health sectors in 12+ African countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Webspace: Cloud, domain registration & hosting services division of Sawasawa, previously offered under the main company.

Products and services

• Custom Software Development Bespoke web-based application development for organizations, including e-commerce platforms, content management systems, and enterprise portals tailored to client requirements.
• Software QA & Testing Quality assurance and integrated testing services covering automated, functional, compatibility, stress, and usability testing to ensure software functions as intended.
• Systems Integration Software-to-software and software-to-hardware integration services that connect disparate digital systems into intelligent networks, automating and improving business operations.
• Research & Development Technical advisory and problem-solving services including system architecture design, software prototyping, feasibility estimates, and in-depth IT audits for compliance with global standards.
• Webspace Cloud services, domain registration, web hosting, virtualization, and co-location services offered through the Webspace.co.ke division of Sawasawa.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ solutions deployed across client base
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Webspace (Division)minorOthersCloud, domain registration and hosting services have been spun off into a separate division called 'Webspace' (webspace.co.ke). This is not an external partnership but rather an internal business division offering related services to customers who need web hosting and domain management alongside software solutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BBD Software: South African-based custom software development house offering bespoke solutions, systems integration, and consulting across Africa and the UK. Directly comparable in custom development focus, African footprint, and enterprise/government client mix.
• Andela: Pan-African software engineering and custom development firm founded with roots in Africa, serving enterprise clients globally with tailored software solutions. Most directly comparable to Sawasawa in business model (custom dev), geography (Africa-rooted), and target market (enterprise/government-grade clients needing bespoke builds).
• Seven Seas Technologies: East African IT services and systems integration firm headquartered in Kenya serving government, NGO, and enterprise clients across the region. Comparable in geographic focus (East Africa), custom development + systems integration model, and government/NGO customer base.
• Intrasoft International: Custom software development and IT services firm operating across Africa and Europe, with a strong portfolio in government, public sector, and enterprise systems. Comparable in bespoke systems integration, government/enterprise focus, and multi-country African delivery model.
• Sysgen Limited: Kenya-based IT services company providing custom software development, systems integration, and managed IT services to East African enterprises and government. Closely comparable in geography (Kenya HQ), service mix (custom dev + integration), and customer profile (East African enterprise/government).

Broad incumbents

• EOH Holdings: Large South African IT services group offering custom software, systems integration, and managed services across multiple African countries. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the African IT services space with overlapping capabilities though serving a wider geography and broader portfolio.
• Accenture Africa: Global IT services giant with significant operations across Africa providing custom development, systems integration, and consulting to African governments and large enterprises. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same enterprise/government RFPs as Sawasawa but with vastly larger scale and global delivery model.

Emerging players

• Africa's Talking: Pan-African tech platform providing communications APIs, mobile integration, and developer infrastructure across multiple African countries. Comparable in pan-African custom tech delivery and integration focus, though with a more productized/API platform model rather than pure bespoke services.
• Cellulant Corporation: Pan-African fintech and digital payments platform providing custom-built software solutions for banks, mobile operators, and government agencies across 35+ African countries. Comparable in African market focus, custom development for regulated clients (banks/government), and cross-country delivery footprint.
• BlueFrontier Technologies: Kenyan IT services and systems integration firm serving enterprise and government clients in East Africa with custom development and digital transformation services. Comparable as a regional custom dev competitor but smaller scale than Sawasawa's 28-year track record.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sawasawaltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sawasawa.com-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sawasawa