Privacy Policy

Last updated: 8 September 2026

This policy explains how VunaSoko collects and uses personal information when you use our Android app, visit our website or contact us.

Who is responsible for your information

VunaSoko is operated by Vuna Soko Mesh. In this policy, “VunaSoko”, “we” and “us” refer to that business. We are responsible for deciding how personal information is used to provide our services. You can contact us at vunasoko@gmail.com.

Information we collect

• Account and profile information: your phone number, name, selected role and the location information you provide, such as your constituency and ward.
• Marketplace information: listings, photographs, product descriptions, quantities, prices, collection details, expressions of interest, messages included with those interests and responses or sourcing activity you submit.
• Verification information: verification requests, delivery results, mobile-network information returned by our SMS provider and records needed to prevent repeated or abusive requests.
• Device and usage information: app and operating-system versions, installation identifiers, notification-registration details, interactions with app features, crash reports and performance information. Our hosting and communications providers may also process IP addresses and connection logs when delivering the service.
• Support correspondence: information you choose to send when you ask for help or raise a concern.

The location fields describe places you enter or select; the app does not request continuous GPS tracking. Selecting a photograph does not give us access to your entire photo library. Please avoid including identity documents, financial credentials or other people's personal information in listings or photographs.

How and why we use information

We use account and marketplace information to verify sign-in, maintain your profile, display listings, record interest and responses, and support sourcing and contact sharing. A phone number and required profile fields are necessary to create and use an account. You choose whether to submit listings, photographs or expressions of interest.

Verification and mobile-network information help us deliver sign-in messages, check whether a number is supported and limit misuse. Device information supports notifications and helps us investigate errors, improve reliability and understand how features are used. Support correspondence helps us answer questions and resolve problems.

Depending on the purpose, we process information to provide the service you request, meet legal obligations, pursue legitimate interests in operating a reliable and secure service where these do not override your rights, or act on your consent where required. Agreeing to our terms is not blanket consent to unrelated uses of your information.

Who can see your information

Other users. Listings and associated seller information, including the name, product details, photographs and location you publish, are visible to users who can browse them. Expressions of interest and their messages are shared with the listing owner. Contact details are made available through the app's contact-sharing process when the listing owner responds by sharing contact. Do not put a phone number in a public description if you want to keep it out of that listing.

Once someone receives your contact details, they can contact you outside VunaSoko. Removing a listing or closing an account cannot remove copies another person has already saved. Anyone receiving contact details must use them responsibly and only for the relevant enquiry.

Service providers. We use providers for hosting, account verification, message delivery, notifications, diagnostics and service analytics. These include Google for hosted app services and diagnostics, and Celcom Africa for SMS delivery. They receive information needed for those functions; this is not permission to use your listing or contact details for unrelated purposes.

Legal and safety purposes. We may disclose information when required by law or reasonably necessary to investigate fraud, respond to a lawful request, protect someone's safety or establish or defend a legal claim. We do not sell your personal information.

Notifications and your choices

You can allow or disable app notifications through your device settings. If you sign in on more than one device, account-related notifications may reach each registered device. Turning off notifications does not close your account or stop the processing needed to operate it.

The public website does not include advertising trackers or a separate visitor-analytics script. The app uses diagnostic and usage services as described above. The app also stores sign-in state, preferences and cached content on your device. Uninstalling the app removes its local data according to your device's settings, but does not delete your account information held by us.

How long information is kept

Account and marketplace records are kept for as long as needed to provide the service and maintain relevant activity records. Verification, security, diagnostic and support records are kept according to their operational purpose rather than indefinitely. Some information may need to be retained to meet a legal obligation, investigate misuse or resolve a dispute.

You can request account closure and deletion by emailing vunasoko@gmail.com. We will explain any information that must be retained and why. Deleting the app alone is not an account-deletion request.

Security and international processing

We use access controls, authenticated connections and encrypted transmission to help protect personal information. No online service or device can be guaranteed completely secure. Keep your phone secure and never share a sign-in code with another person.

Our service providers process information in Kenya and other countries, including the United States. Cross-border processing is subject to the requirements of Kenyan data-protection law. You may contact us for information about the safeguards applicable to your data. This policy does not ask you to waive your rights because a provider operates outside Kenya.

Your rights and requests

Subject to applicable law, you may request access to your personal information, correction of inaccurate information, deletion, restriction of processing or a portable copy. You may also object to processing and withdraw consent where we rely on it. Withdrawing consent does not affect processing that was lawful before withdrawal.

To make a request, email vunasoko@gmail.com and describe what you need. We may ask for proportionate information to verify that the account or data belongs to you. Do not send your verification code. We will respond within applicable legal time limits and explain any lawful restriction on a request.

You can also raise a complaint with Kenya's Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. You do not have to contact us first to exercise that right.

Children's information

VunaSoko accounts are intended for adults aged 18 and over. If you believe a child has provided personal information through an account, contact us so we can investigate and take appropriate action.

Changes to this policy

We will publish updates on this page and revise the date above. Where a change materially affects how we use personal information, we will provide additional notice as required and obtain consent where necessary.