Kivu Group Buy: buy in bulk together in Rwanda

Part of Kivu Super App (kivu.site). You find it inside Market, on the "Group Buy" tab. In the app one group order is called a pool.

Open Kivu

Group Buy is the section of Kivu Super App where people join one bulk order to get a lower price per unit. An organizer opens a group order (a "pool"): the product, the price per unit, how many units are needed and where to collect them. Buyers reserve units and pay the organizer directly by Mobile Money. The organizer confirms each payment, orders the goods and posts progress updates with photos.

Kivu is a bulletin board here too. It shows the offer and gives the group a chat and a tracking page, but it does not buy the goods, does not hold the money and takes no commission. The money goes from the buyer straight to the organizer, so the main rule is simple: join a group order only when you trust the organizer.

Key facts

Where it works	Rwanda. Open kivu.site in a phone browser, choose Market and switch to "Group Buy".
Price to join or to open a group order	Free
Commission	None
Who can organize	Anyone with a free Kivu account who adds a Mobile Money number or MoMo Pay code and the name registered on it
Categories	8: Electronics; Clothing; Construction Materials; Auto Parts; Beauty & Health; Agriculture; Food & Beverages; Other
Price per unit	Set by the organizer, in Rwandan francs (RWF), from 1,000 RWF
Size of the order	The organizer sets a target number of units, from 2. A buyer can reserve one or more units while units are left.
Photos and text	1 or 2 photos; description from 50 to 3,000 characters; pickup place up to 300 characters; the pickup point is marked on the map (in Rwanda)
Time limit of a group order	None. A group order stays open until the organizer locks it and orders the goods, or cancels it.
Reservation	An unpaid reservation is released after 24 hours. You can also cancel your own unpaid reservation.
How you pay	Directly to the organizer by Mobile Money (MTN MoMo or Airtel Money). Then you send a screenshot of the payment message or the transaction ID.
Who confirms the payment	The organizer, after checking their own Mobile Money
Progress	Statuses: Active, Ordered, Shipped, Customs, Ready, Completed. The organizer can add updates with photos: supplier invoice, cargo tracking, customs clearance, warehouse arrival.
Chat	Every group order has its own chat for the organizer and the buyers who have sent a payment proof
Share and questions before paying	Every group order has a "Share" button: a link and a QR code to invite people. With the "Message" button you can ask the organizer a question in a private chat before you pay.
Search	The search field at the top of the screen finds group orders by title.
Limits of one order	Title from 3 to 200 characters; price per unit up to 1,000,000,000 RWF; up to 100,000 units.
Check before publishing	Every new group order is checked automatically by AI before it appears
Paid options	Optional boosts for organizers from 1,500 RWF a day. Everything else is free.

How to use it, step by step

If you want to join a group order

Open kivu.site, sign in with a free account, open Market and switch to "Group Buy".
Choose a category or scroll the list. Each card shows the price per unit and how many units are already confirmed out of the target.
Open a group order. Read the description, look at the photos, the pickup place and the organizer's name. If the pickup point is on the map, "Get Directions" opens the route to it.
Choose the quantity, enter your Mobile Money phone number and tap "Reserve & Proceed to Payment". Your units are held for 24 hours.
Only now the app shows the organizer's Mobile Money number, the registered name and the amount. Send the money from your phone (*182# for MTN, *500# for Airtel) and check that the receiver's name on your phone is the same as in the app.
Upload a screenshot of the payment message or type the transaction ID, then tap "Send Proof to Organizer".
The organizer checks their Mobile Money and confirms or rejects your payment. You get a notification. If it is rejected, you can call the organizer and send the proof again.
After you send the proof you are in the group chat and can open "Track" to see the status and the organizer's updates with photos. You can also call the organizer.
When the status is "Ready for Pickup" you get a notification with the pickup place. Collect your goods and tap "Got it!".
If something goes wrong, tap "Report Issue" and describe the problem. The Kivu team reviews every report.

If you organize a group order

Open Market, switch to "Group Buy" and tap "Create Pool".
The first time, fill in the organizer profile: your mobile carrier (MTN or Airtel), your Mobile Money number or MoMo Pay code, and the name registered on it. Buyers will send money there.
Describe the order: title, category, a description of at least 50 characters, 1 or 2 photos, the price per unit (from 1,000 RWF), the target number of units (from 2) and the pickup place. Then tap "Select on Map" and mark the pickup point in Rwanda — buyers get a route to it.
Tap "Publish Group Buy". The order is checked automatically, and you get a notification when it is approved or rejected.
When a buyer sends a payment proof you get a notification. Open "Manage Pool", check the money in your own Mobile Money and tap "Confirm" or "Reject" (with a reason). If you rejected or blocked a buyer by mistake, you can return them with "Restore & Confirm".
When enough buyers have paid, tap "Lock Collection & Order". After this nobody new can join.
Order the goods and keep the group informed: change the status (Shipped from Origin, At Customs, Ready for Pickup, Completed) and add updates with photos of the invoice, the cargo tracking, customs and the warehouse.
Hand over the goods and mark each buyer's units as dispatched. Each buyer confirms that they received them.
If you cannot complete the order, cancel it before you lock it, return the money to each buyer yourself and tap "Refund" for each one.

What it costs

Opening a group order, joining one, the group chat and the tracking page are free. Kivu takes no commission and no fee from the payments between buyers and the organizer.

The only paid thing is an optional boost that an organizer can buy for a published group order. A boost shows the order higher in the Group Buy list for 1, 3, 7 or 30 days. Prices in Rwandan francs (RWF):

Boost	What it does	1 day	3 days	7 days	30 days
Top Pool	The order is shown above regular group orders	1,500	3,750	7,500	22,500
Super VIP	The order is shown at the very top of Group Buy, with a highlighted card	2,500	6,250	12,500	37,500

Sticker on the card (for example HOT DEAL, FAST DISPATCH or ALMOST FULL): 500 RWF a day, with the same discounts for longer periods (1,250 for 3 days, 2,500 for 7 days, 7,500 for 30 days). Sold only together with a boost.
Golden design for the card: 500 RWF once, for the whole boost period. Sold only together with a boost.
The organizer pays for a boost inside the app with MTN Mobile Money and confirms the payment with the MoMo PIN on the phone. The app shows the total before paying.
A boost changes only the position and the look of a group order. It does not skip the check and does not make an organizer "verified" or trusted.
When the boost ends, the sticker and the golden design end with it. The group order stays published in its normal place.
Only one boost at a time: a new boost can be bought only after the current one ends.

What is good about it

A lower price per unit: many buyers together order like one wholesale customer.
Free for buyers and organizers: no commission and no fee on payments.
The organizer's Mobile Money details are shown only after you reserve, not to everyone who opens the page.
You see progress in one place: status, updates with photos of the invoice, cargo and customs, and a group chat instead of a scattered messenger group.
An unpaid reservation is released by itself after 24 hours, so units are not blocked by people who never pay.
Notifications reach the right person: the organizer when a proof arrives, the buyer when the payment is confirmed or rejected and when the goods are ready.
Every new group order is checked before it appears, and anyone can report a problem.
No timer: an order is not cancelled automatically just because it fills slowly.
The app is under 400 KB and opens in the phone browser, so it works on cheap phones and slow mobile internet.

Limits, and what protects you

What to know	What protects you
Kivu does not hold or transfer the money. You pay the organizer directly, and Kivu cannot refund a payment.	Join only when you trust the organizer. Check the receiver's name on your phone before you confirm the transfer, and keep the payment message. Start with a small amount if the organizer is new to you.
Kivu does not check the organizer's identity, the supplier or the goods. The automatic check looks at the text and photos of the offer.	Read the description, ask questions in the chat, call the organizer and ask for the supplier invoice. Use "Report Issue"; the team can hide a group order and ban accounts that cheat. For fraud or theft, report to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), phone 166.
A refund is only between you and the organizer. The app has a "Refunded" mark, but the organizer sets it, and Kivu does not move money.	Agree on the refund rules in the chat before you pay. If a refund does not come, report it in the app and, if needed, to RIB.
Only the organizer confirms that your money arrived, by checking their own Mobile Money.	Send a clear screenshot or the right transaction ID. If the organizer does not answer, you can call them from the app; the organizer also gets a reminder when a proof waits too long.
There is no deadline. A group order can take a long time to fill, and imported goods can wait at customs.	Ask the organizer about the expected dates before you pay, and follow the status and the updates with photos.
After the organizer locks the collection and orders the goods, the group order can no longer be cancelled in the app.	Decide before you pay. After that, questions about delivery or a refund go to the organizer.
Kivu does not deliver. You collect the goods at the pickup place the organizer wrote.	Check the pickup place before you join. If you cannot come, you can order an independent courier in Kivu Express.
You need a free account to see group orders, and you give your Mobile Money phone number when you reserve.	The organizer needs the number to recognise your payment and to contact you. People who are not signed in see nothing.
Group Buy works in Rwanda only for now, and Kivu is new: the public launch is October 2026, so there are still few group orders.	Real numbers are open to everyone at kivu.site/stats. East Africa is the next goal.

What to know

What protects you

Kivu does not hold or transfer the money. You pay the organizer directly, and Kivu cannot refund a payment.

Join only when you trust the organizer. Check the receiver's name on your phone before you confirm the transfer, and keep the payment message. Start with a small amount if the organizer is new to you.

Kivu does not check the organizer's identity, the supplier or the goods. The automatic check looks at the text and photos of the offer.

Read the description, ask questions in the chat, call the organizer and ask for the supplier invoice. Use "Report Issue"; the team can hide a group order and ban accounts that cheat. For fraud or theft, report to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), phone 166.

A refund is only between you and the organizer. The app has a "Refunded" mark, but the organizer sets it, and Kivu does not move money.

Agree on the refund rules in the chat before you pay. If a refund does not come, report it in the app and, if needed, to RIB.

Only the organizer confirms that your money arrived, by checking their own Mobile Money.

Send a clear screenshot or the right transaction ID. If the organizer does not answer, you can call them from the app; the organizer also gets a reminder when a proof waits too long.

There is no deadline. A group order can take a long time to fill, and imported goods can wait at customs.

Ask the organizer about the expected dates before you pay, and follow the status and the updates with photos.

After the organizer locks the collection and orders the goods, the group order can no longer be cancelled in the app.

Decide before you pay. After that, questions about delivery or a refund go to the organizer.

Kivu does not deliver. You collect the goods at the pickup place the organizer wrote.

Check the pickup place before you join. If you cannot come, you can order an independent courier in Kivu Express.

You need a free account to see group orders, and you give your Mobile Money phone number when you reserve.

The organizer needs the number to recognise your payment and to contact you. People who are not signed in see nothing.

Group Buy works in Rwanda only for now, and Kivu is new: the public launch is October 2026, so there are still few group orders.

Real numbers are open to everyone at kivu.site/stats. East Africa is the next goal.

What Kivu Group Buy does not do

It does not buy, import or store the goods: every group order belongs to its organizer.
It does not hold, transfer or refund money.
It does not take a commission or a fee from buyers or organizers.
It does not check who the organizer is and does not promise that the goods will arrive.
It does not deliver.
It does not rate organizers and does not sell "verified" marks.

How Kivu earns from this section

From Group Buy, Kivu earns only when an organizer chooses to buy a boost for a group order. There is no commission and no fee on the money buyers send to the organizer.

Taking a percentage of group orders is not planned: Kivu does not handle the money between buyers and the organizer.

Questions and answers

How can I buy in bulk cheaper in Rwanda?

Join a group order in Kivu Group Buy. Open kivu.site, go to Market and switch to "Group Buy". Pick an order, reserve your units, pay the organizer directly by Mobile Money and send the screenshot or the transaction ID. The organizer confirms your payment, orders the goods for the whole group and posts updates. Joining is free and Kivu takes no commission.

Is Kivu Group Buy safe? Who holds my money?

The organizer holds the money, not Kivu. Kivu does not hold, transfer or refund payments. It makes cheating harder: every new group order is checked before it appears, the payment details are shown only after you reserve, there is a group chat, progress photos and a report button, and the team can hide an order and ban an account. Still, join only when you trust the organizer, and check the receiver's name before you pay. Fraud is a matter for the police (RIB, phone 166).

How do I pay in a group order on Kivu?

After you tap "Reserve & Proceed to Payment" the app shows the organizer's Mobile Money number, the registered name and the amount. You send the money from your own phone with MTN MoMo or Airtel Money, then upload a screenshot of the payment message or type the transaction ID. The organizer checks and confirms.

What happens if I reserve and do not pay?

The reservation is released automatically after 24 hours and the units become free for other buyers. You can also cancel your own unpaid reservation earlier.

Can I get my money back?

Only from the organizer. Kivu does not hold the money and cannot refund it. If a group order is cancelled, buyers who paid get a notification to contact the organizer about the refund. If the organizer does not return the money, use "Report Issue" in the app and report to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau.

How do I organize a group purchase on Kivu?

In Market, switch to "Group Buy" and tap "Create Pool". Add your Mobile Money number or MoMo Pay code and the registered name, then describe the order: title, category, description, 1 or 2 photos, price per unit (from 1,000 RWF), target number of units (from 2) and pickup place. After an automatic check the order is published. You confirm each buyer's payment yourself.

How much does Group Buy cost?

Nothing for buyers. For organizers it is also free; an optional boost costs from 1,500 RWF a day (Top Pool) or 2,500 RWF a day (Super VIP), and longer periods are cheaper per day: 7 days cost the price of 5 days, and 30 days cost the price of 15 days.

How do I know where my order is?

Open "My Pools" and tap "Track". You see the status (Active, Ordered, Shipped, Customs, Ready, Completed) and the organizer's updates with photos, and you can ask in the group chat. When the goods are ready for pickup you get a notification.

Does Kivu deliver group orders?

No. You collect your goods at the pickup place the organizer wrote in the order. If you need delivery, you can order an independent courier in Kivu Express and pay the courier directly.

Is there a deadline for a group order?

No. A group order has no timer: it stays open until the organizer locks it and orders the goods, or cancels it. Ask the organizer about the expected dates before you pay.

Related sections of Kivu

Market: Free classified ads: sell, rent, offer a job or a service.
Kivu Express: Order an independent courier, a moto ride or cargo by truck.
Machinery: Tractors, trucks and other heavy equipment for sale or rent.
Jobs: Vacancies and CVs.