Kenya · access

Cheap AI API in Kenya: real route pricing

Low-cost pinned routes for Kenyan developers, with current token prices.

Direct answer

One Fikra key calls every route listed at /v1/models. Set base_url to https://api.fikraapi.co.ke/v1 in any OpenAI-compatible client. No separate accounts per model family.

What one key gives you

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, GLM 5.3 Flash, Qwen 3.8 27B, Kimi K3, Gemini-family and more — all on the same key.
Embeddings (fikra-embed), image generation and speech routes with no extra setup.
Structured decisions via Gemini Decision 1 for yes/no and classification without paying for output tokens.
All routes at the prices published at /pricing. One wallet, one reconciliation.

How to connect from Kenya

Any OpenAI-compatible SDK — Python, Node.js, curl — works without code changes. Change only base_url and model; your existing prompts, tools and agent frameworks stay the same.

Kenya buyers fund with M-Pesa, Airtel Money or card. Minimum top-up is $5.

curl https://api.fikraapi.co.ke/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_FIKRA_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model":"deepseek-v4.1-flash-1017","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"Summarise this ticket in two lines."}]}'

One wallet instead of many accounts

The friction for a Kenya team is not token price, it is payment logistics. Each provider means another foreign-merchant charge, another FX margin and another card-decline risk. One prepaid wallet means one conversion at top-up and one place to reconcile every call.

Plans and rate limits

All self-serve plans are prepaid per 30 days with no SLA. Every tier includes 3,000 requests per minute and 250,000 per day — enough for most development and early-production workloads without a sales conversation.

Plan	Price / 30 days	API keys
Lite	$10	1
Pro	$25	2
Max	$60	5

How to get started in Kenya

Create an account at fikraapi.co.ke/account/signup and confirm your email.
Copy your fk_live_ key from the dashboard. It is shown once; store it safely.
Open the dashboard and choose M-Pesa, Airtel Money or card. Enter $5 or more. The screen shows the KES charge before you approve: KES 136.99 is charged, KES 133 credits to your USD wallet. M-Pesa and Airtel Money send a prompt to your phone; approve it and the wallet credits within seconds.
In any OpenAI-compatible client, set base_url to https://api.fikraapi.co.ke/v1 and model to deepseek-v4.1-flash-1017.
Run your first call. The dashboard shows your balance and each request's token cost.
Set a budget cap on the key before sharing it with teammates or deploying to production.

curl https://api.fikraapi.co.ke/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_FIKRA_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model":"deepseek-v4.1-flash-1017","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"Summarise this ticket in two lines."}]}'

Common questions

Can I pay from Kenya without a foreign credit card?

Yes. The Kenya checkout offers M-Pesa, Airtel Money and card. M-Pesa and Airtel Money send an STK prompt to your Safaricom or Airtel phone; approve it and the USD wallet credits. Minimum top-up is $5, charged as KES 136.99 (KES 133 credited at the KES 133 = $1 checkout rate). Mobile money is only available on the Kenya checkout.

How much do I need to start?

Minimum top-up is $5. Plans are prepaid per 30 days: Lite $10, Pro $25, Max $60. All plans include 3,000 requests per minute and 250,000 per day. The wallet balance is a hard cap — you cannot overspend it.

Which model should I use first?

Start with deepseek-v4.1-flash-1017 for text, code and summaries. It is the most-used route on the platform. Confirm it is listed at /v1/models, then compare against qwen3.8-27b (structured output) and glm-5.3-flash (high-volume code) on your own prompts before committing budget.

Does Fikra offer an SLA?

No. Self-serve plans are prepaid with no contractual SLA. Uptime is published at fikraapi.co.ke/status. If your project requires a committed uptime guarantee, contact support before you sign up.

Where do I see my usage and spend?

The dashboard shows your balance and per-key usage. Platform-wide stats are at fikraapi.co.ke/stats. Keep the request ID from each call if you need to reconcile a charge.

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