1. Introduction
Soko ya Hood is a neighbourhood-focused digital marketplace designed to connect businesses with residents and customers within neighbourhoods, estates and surrounding communities across Kenya.
The Platform is owned and operated by Soko ya Hood Limited, with underlying technology infrastructure powered by Radicha Ltd.
No account or registration is required for members of the public to browse businesses, products or services on the Platform.
Businesses are onboarded through authorized Soko ya Hood Agents assigned to specific Marketplace Areas. Businesses cannot self-register directly.
The Platform may contain features that are in development, testing or pilot stages. Soko ya Hood may modify, suspend or discontinue features from time to time.
2. Definitions
Platform: The Soko ya Hood website, applications and associated digital services.
User / Customer: Any member of the public who accesses the Platform to browse, search for or discover businesses, products or services.
Vendor / Merchant: A business or lawful entity onboarded onto the Platform by an authorized Agent.
Agent / Representative: An individual formally appointed by Soko ya Hood Limited to onboard, verify and support businesses within an assigned Marketplace Area.
Marketplace Area: A defined neighbourhood, estate or town assigned to an Agent.
Onboarding: The process through which an Agent registers and verifies a Vendor on the Platform.
Digital Business Identity: A verified digital representation of a business created on the Platform.
Store Account: The Vendor's digital storefront and management dashboard.
Content: Text, images, listings, product information, reviews, ratings or other material submitted to or displayed on the Platform.
Subscription Fee: The recurring fee payable by a Vendor to maintain an active, publicly visible Store Account.
3. Eligibility and Access
Any member of the public may access and browse the Platform without creating an Account.
Where an optional feature requires a User Account, the User must be at least 18 years old or have appropriate parental or guardian consent and supervision.
A business may become a Vendor only through the official Soko ya Hood onboarding process. The person acting for the business must be its legal owner or have lawful authority to act on its behalf.
Soko ya Hood Limited may decline onboarding or suspend or terminate any Store Account created using false, misleading or fraudulent information.
4. Vendor Onboarding and Ongoing Support Through Soko ya Hood Agents
Exclusive onboarding channel
Vendors cannot self-register. Digital Business Identities and Store Accounts are created by authorized Agents assigned to the relevant Marketplace Area.
Role of the Agent
The Agent may explain the Platform and its terms, collect business and personal information, carry out reasonable verification, and create the Vendor's Digital Business Identity and Store Account.
Handover
After onboarding, the Vendor receives access credentials and is responsible for managing its products, services and business information.
Ongoing support
The assigned Agent remains the primary local point of contact for questions or complaints relating to onboarding, the Store Account, subscriptions and local customer concerns.
Agent authority
Agents may not vary these Terms, waive fees or make promises outside official Soko ya Hood policy.
A prospective Vendor or Customer may verify an Agent through the official Soko ya Hood contact channels.
5. Vendor Store Account Management and Security
- Vendors are responsible for safeguarding their Store Account login credentials.
- Vendors are responsible for activity occurring under their Store Accounts.
- Unauthorized access or suspected security breaches should be reported promptly.
- Password reset or account access issues may be handled through the assigned Agent or official support channels.
Soko ya Hood Limited is not liable for loss arising from a Vendor's failure to safeguard its credentials.
6. User Responsibilities
All Users agree to:
- Provide accurate and truthful information where information is submitted.
- Use the Platform only for lawful purposes.
- Respect the rights, privacy and property of other Users and Vendors.
- Refrain from posting false, defamatory, obscene, harassing, discriminatory or unlawful content.
- Not interfere with or compromise Platform security.
- Not use malware, unauthorized scraping or automated access.
- Not impersonate another person, entity or Soko ya Hood Agent.
7. Marketplace Listings, Business Profiles and Subscription Status
Businesses listed on Soko ya Hood are independently owned and operated. Reasonable verification measures may be applied during onboarding, but Soko ya Hood does not guarantee the accuracy, quality, legality or reliability of any Vendor listing, product or service.
Featured placement, promotional visibility and search ranking may depend on Platform criteria, including subscription tier, listing completeness, verification status and engagement.
Soko ya Hood does not acquire ownership of any Vendor business, product, service, trademark or other intellectual property.
Ratings and reviews, where enabled, must reflect genuine experiences. Fraudulent or manipulated reviews may be removed.
8. Prohibited Conduct
Users and Vendors must not use the Platform to:
- List or promote illegal goods, services or activities.
- Infringe intellectual property, privacy or other legal rights.
- Upload viruses, malware or harmful code.
- Engage in fraud, price manipulation or deceptive trade practices.
- Circumvent or interfere with Platform security features.
- Send unsolicited commercial communications or spam.
Violations may result in suspension or termination of the relevant Store Account or access.
9. Content and Intellectual Property
Platform intellectual property
Soko ya Hood branding, logos, design elements, software and underlying technology are protected intellectual property belonging to Soko ya Hood Limited and/or Radicha Ltd.
User and Vendor Content
Users and Vendors retain ownership of Content submitted to the Platform. By submitting Content, they grant Soko ya Hood Limited a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, display, reproduce and distribute that Content for the purpose of operating and promoting the Platform and listing.
Users and Vendors are responsible for ensuring they own or have permission to use Content submitted to the Platform.
10. No Payment Processing Between Users
Soko ya Hood Limited is not a party to, and does not process, mediate or guarantee any payment, sale, exchange or transaction between a Customer and a Vendor.
Any dispute concerning price, quality, delivery or payment should be resolved directly between the Customer and Vendor, with the local Agent available to assist where appropriate.
11. Third-Party Services and Links
The Platform may use trusted third-party service providers for services such as hosting, mapping, analytics, communications and security.
The Platform may also contain links to third-party websites or services not owned or controlled by Soko ya Hood Limited. Soko ya Hood is not responsible for their content, policies or practices.
12. Platform Availability, Development and Testing
- The Platform may include incomplete or developing features.
- Users may experience bugs, maintenance periods or temporary service disruptions.
- Feedback may be submitted through official Soko ya Hood support channels.
- Soko ya Hood does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free availability.
13. Disclaimers
The Platform is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, to the extent permitted by law.
Soko ya Hood does not guarantee specific business outcomes, including sales, revenue, customer traffic or search ranking.
14. Illegal Activity, Prohibited Goods and Cooperation With Authorities
Soko ya Hood is a discovery and listings platform and does not act as an investigative or adjudicative authority for allegations of illegal activity, counterfeit goods, fraud or criminal conduct.
Where suspected illegal activity or counterfeit goods are identified, the affected party should report the matter to the relevant authority, which may include the Anti-Counterfeit Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the Kenya Police Service or another competent authority.
Soko ya Hood may cooperate with lawful investigations and may respond to lawful requests for information, consistent with the Privacy Policy and applicable law.
Where Soko ya Hood reasonably suspects a listing involves illegal activity or counterfeit goods, it may suspend or remove the listing and may report the matter to the relevant authority.
15. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by Kenyan law, Soko ya Hood Limited shall not be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or in connection with use of, or inability to use, the Platform.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
16. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Soko ya Hood Limited, its officers, directors, employees, Agents and representatives from claims, liabilities, damages, losses and expenses arising from your use of the Platform, your Content, your violation of these Terms, or infringement of third-party rights.
17. Suspension and Termination
Soko ya Hood Limited may suspend or terminate a Vendor Store Account where the Vendor breaches these Terms, provides false information, engages in prohibited conduct, is suspected of illegal activity, fails to pay applicable subscription fees, or where required by law.
Where suspension arises solely from non-payment, Store Account content may be retained but hidden from public view pending payment, subject to the applicable Merchant Agreement.
A Vendor may request deactivation of its Store Account through its assigned Agent or official Soko ya Hood support channels.
18. Privacy
Use of the Platform is also governed by the Soko ya Hood Privacy Policy, which explains how personal and business information is collected, used, stored and protected.
19. Dispute Resolution
Local resolution
Vendors and Customers are encouraged to first raise disputes, questions or complaints with the Agent assigned to the relevant Marketplace Area.
Informal resolution
Where a matter cannot be resolved locally, the parties should attempt in good faith to resolve it through direct negotiation.
Mediation and arbitration
If a dispute remains unresolved after thirty (30) days, either party may refer the matter to mediation and, if necessary, arbitration in Nairobi, Kenya, in accordance with the Arbitration Act, 1995 (Kenya).
Allegations of crime or illegal activity should be reported directly to the relevant authority.
20. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Kenya. Subject to the dispute-resolution provisions above, disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Kenya.
21. Amendments
Soko ya Hood Limited may update or amend these Terms from time to time. Material changes may be communicated through the Platform or by other reasonable means.
Continued use of the Platform after amended Terms are posted constitutes acceptance of those changes.
22. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be limited or removed to the minimum extent necessary, while the remaining provisions continue in full force and effect.
23. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, Business Consent Form and, where applicable, Merchant Agreement, constitute the complete agreement governing use of the Platform.
24. Contact Us
For questions, concerns, feedback, Agent verification, escalations or reports concerning use of the Platform:
Soko ya Hood Limited
Technology Partner: Radicha Ltd
Platform: Soko ya Hood
Website: www.hoodsoko.co.ke
Email: info@hoodsoko.co.ke
Phone: +254 705 371 205