Bulk SMS Marketing for Kenya & South Africa
Bulk SMS remains a high-engagement channel across Africa. It reaches feature phones, works without data, and is still widely used for reminders, promotions and alerts.
When to Use SMS vs WhatsApp
Use the decision table below to choose the right channel for each job. Prefer WhatsApp for conversational sales and support, rich media, long conversations and payment requests with context. Prefer SMS for simple reminders and broadcasts, customers without smartphones, and high-volume simple alerts.
Compliance Essentials
Kenya: ODPC consent rules plus CAK (Communications Authority of Kenya) sender ID registration. South Africa: POPIA consent and opt-out requirements. Always include opt-out instructions and only message people who have given permission.
How MarketFlow Helps
MarketFlow creates ready-to-send bulk SMS copy as part of full campaigns. You send the messages through your SMS provider. Native bulk-SMS sending is on the roadmap.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a registered sender ID in Kenya?
- Yes. Promotional SMS in Kenya generally requires a sender ID registered with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) through a licensed aggregator.
- Can MarketFlow send the SMS for me?
- Not yet. MarketFlow creates the ready-to-send copy. Native bulk-SMS sending is on the roadmap.