Getting started
Last updated: 2026-05-19
This guide takes you from a fresh sign-up to a sent WhatsApp invoice in about 5 minutes. Have your latest KPLC bill SMS open on your phone before you start — you'll need the rate from it.
1. Sign in
- Go to stimafy.online and tap Start free.
- Sign in with Google. We don't store passwords — Google handles authentication and we only get your name and email.
- You'll land on the dashboard. It'll show a setup checklist if this is your first time.
2. Add your first property
- From the dashboard, tap + New property (or Properties → + New property).
- Give it a name (e.g. Kileleshwa Flats), an address (for your own reference), and your KPLC main meter number if you have it handy. Only the name is required.
- Tap Create property.
Free plan limit
The free plan covers one property. If you manage more buildings, reach out via Talk to us and we'll quote a paid plan based on your portfolio.
3. Add units
Inside your property, the Units section lists each rentable unit. For each one:
- Type the unit name (e.g. Unit 4B, House 1).
- Optionally add the sub-meter number — useful if you have several meters that look alike.
- Tap + Add unit. Repeat for every rentable unit.
4. Add tenants and assign them to units
- Go to Tenants → + New tenant.
- Enter the tenant's name, phone number (in international format like
254712345678— required for WhatsApp invoices), and email if you have it. - Save the tenant.
- Go back to the property page, find the unit, tap + Assign tenant and pick the tenant from the dropdown.
The first assignment can take 10-30 seconds while the database wakes up. You'll see an "Assigning tenant…" spinner while it's working.
5. Start a billing cycle
- Go to Readings. Tap + Start a cycle.
- Paste your latest KPLC bill SMS exactly as you received it (BillDate, CurRead, Units, Bill, Pay…). Stimafy extracts the rate automatically — usually around
KES 28-32/kWhdepending on the month. - Confirm the parsed values and create the cycle.
See Recording meter readings for the details of what the SMS parser looks for.
6. Enter sub-meter readings + send invoices
- Open the cycle. For each unit, enter the previous and current sub-meter readings. Stimafy shows you the kWh used and the resulting bill in real time.
- Tap Save. The bill auto-creates as a draft.
- Go to Invoices. For each draft bill, tap Send via WhatsApp. WhatsApp opens with the message pre-filled. Hit send.
That's it. When payment lands, tap Mark paid. Outstanding bills get a Send reminder button — a shorter, friendlier follow-up message.
Next steps
- Sending bills via WhatsApp — what tenants see, when to send reminders.
- FAQ — pricing, data privacy, edge cases.