"How much for CCTV?" is the question we hear most — and the honest answer is "it depends on what you're protecting." Here's a transparent breakdown of what goes into a professional installation, with typical market prices, so you can budget before anyone visits your site.
The components that make up your quote
Cameras — from about KSh 3,000 each
Indoor dome cameras start around KSh 3,000–5,000. Specialised units — long-range, fisheye/panoramic, low-light — run KSh 4,500–10,000+. Camera count drives everything else: cover entrances, tills, stock rooms and blind corners first.
The recorder (DVR/NVR) — KSh 6,500 to 20,000+
The recorder is your system's brain, sized by channels: 4-channel units from ~KSh 6,500, 8-channel ~KSh 11,000, 16-channel ~KSh 19,000. Buy one size larger than today's camera count — expansion is cheaper when the recorder is ready for it.
Storage — ~KSh 7,000 per terabyte
A surveillance-grade 1TB drive stores roughly 2–4 weeks of continuous footage on a small system. Motion-triggered recording stretches it much further.
Cabling, power and protection
Coax cable runs ~KSh 50 per metre plus connectors; a regulated 5A power unit ~KSh 6,000; and always include a surge protector or UPS — in Kenyan power conditions this is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy.
Professional installation — from ~KSh 10,000
Neat cabling, correct camera angles, configured remote viewing and a handover demo. Poor installation is the number-one reason systems fail to deliver evidence when it matters.
Typical small-shop package: 4 cameras + 4-channel DVR + 1TB storage + cabling, power and installation typically lands between KSh 40,000 and 60,000. A mid-size premises with 8 cameras usually falls in the KSh 80,000–130,000 range.
What changes the price
- Distance and building layout — long cable runs and concrete walls add labour.
- Remote viewing — phone access needs stable internet at the premises.
- Retention requirements — 90-day storage needs multiple terabytes.
- Analytics — face recognition and people counting sit at the premium end.
The mistakes that cost more than the system
Buying cameras first and planning later; skipping surge protection; DIY cabling that fails in the rains; and nobody assigned to actually check footage. A smaller, well-planned system beats a sprawling neglected one every time.
Need a hand with this?
Talk to Kaziware — free discovery call, honest advice, no obligation.
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