Welcome to Tumakazi. These Client Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) apply to anyone who posts a project, hires a freelancer or uses our platform as a client. By creating a client account, posting a project or accepting a bid, you agree to these Terms. Please read them carefully because they explain how projects are paid for, how escrow works and what you can expect from us.
1.1 These Terms govern your use of Tumakazi as a Client.
1.2 “We”, “us” or “our” means Tumakazi. “You” means the Client. A “Project” is a task you post and award to a freelancer. “Escrow” means funds we hold securely until work is delivered and approved.
2.1 You must be at least 18 years old and able to enter a binding contract. You’re responsible for keeping your login details safe and for everything that happens under your account.
2.2 Provide accurate, real information especially your contact and payment details. We may suspend accounts with false or misleading data.
2.3 You may only open one client account unless we give written permission. Duplicate accounts will be closed.
3.1 Describe your project honestly and completely: scope, deliverables, timeline and budget. Misleading descriptions may lead to disputes and could result in us removing the project.
3.2 Once posted, freelancers submit bids. We don’t guarantee any minimum number of bids and we don’t endorse any freelancer. It’s up to you to review profiles, portfolios and ratings before accepting a bid.
4.1 When you accept a bid, you enter into a direct legal agreement with that freelancer. Tumakazi is not a party to that contract. We provide the platform and payment infrastructure, but we do not employ freelancers or control their work.
4.2 You agree to pay the freelancer the amount stated in the accepted bid, subject to the escrow and milestone schedule set out below.
5.1 All payments for a project must flow through Tumakazi’s approved escrow system. Under no circumstances should you pay a freelancer directly outside the platform because doing so forfeits our protection and may result in account suspension.
5.2 Payment schedule
The total project fee is split into three escrow payments. You must deposit funds as follows:
a) 50% before the project starts – This confirms your commitment and allows the freelancer to begin work. You must pay this first installment into escrow immediately after accepting the bid, using the Escrow URL we provide.
b) 30% upon delivery of the first milestone – The freelancer will submit the agreed first milestone. You review it; once you’re satisfied, we’ll ask you to release the second installment. If you request reasonable revisions, the freelancer should address them before this payment is triggered.
c) 20% on project closure – After the final deliverable is handed over and you confirm the project is complete, the remaining balance is released to the freelancer. Only after all three payments have been released will the project be marked as closed.
5.3 Funds in escrow are held in a segregated account with our payment partner. We only release them according to the schedule above and with your approval at each milestone. You cannot cancel an escrow payment after it has been released to the freelancer, so please review work carefully before approving.
5.4 If you fail to deposit any installment on time (within 3 business days of the milestone being reached), the freelancer may pause work, and we may, at the freelancer’s request, suspend the project.
6.1 You must review milestone deliveries promptly, usually within 2 business days. If you don’t respond, the freelancer may contact us to move the project forward. Silence cannot be used to withhold payment indefinitely.
6.2 Reasonable revision requests that fall within the original project scope are part of the process. However, significant extra work (scope creep) may require a separate fee arrangement. communicate clearly about the planned changes with the freelancer.
6.3 Final approval and the release of the last 20% signify that you accept the deliverables as complete. Once the final payment is released, the project is closed and ownership of deliverables transfers to you (see Section 7).
7.1 Upon full payment (all three installments released), you own the project deliverables the freelancer created specifically for you, as specified in the project agreement. The freelancer may keep a portfolio copy unless you ask in writing that it remain private.
7.2 You may not use deliverables for which you haven’t paid in full. If a project is cancelled before completion, ownership of unfinished work remains with the freelancer, and any escrow distribution will follow the cancellation policy in Section 9.
8.1 Communicate respectfully and professionally. We do not tolerate harassment, threats or discriminatory language.
8.2 Do not ask freelancers to work outside the escrow system, pay them directly or share personal payment details. All financial transactions must stay on the platform using the Escrow URL.
8.3 Keep any freelancer’s confidential information (business ideas, trade secrets) secure and only use it for the project.
9.1 If you’re unhappy with a milestone delivery, first discuss it directly with the freelancer. Most issues are resolved through clear communication.
9.2 If you can’t agree, contact us at info@tumakazi.com. We’ll mediate based on the project description, messages exchanged and deliverables submitted. We may decide to release part of the escrow to the freelancer for work done, refund part to you, or suggest a revised plan.
9.3 Cancellation before any work begins: If you cancel after paying the 50% deposit but before the freelancer has started, we will refund that deposit minus a small processing fee (disclosed at the time). If work has already started, the freelancer is entitled to compensation for hours already invested. we will help determine a fair amount.
9.4 We do not guarantee refunds; escrow funds are only released according to the milestone approvals or a mutual agreement. Chargebacks initiated outside our process are a breach of these Terms and may result in account termination.
You may leave a review and rating for your freelancer after project closure. Reviews must be honest and based on real experience. Fake or pressured reviews are prohibited. We may remove reviews that violate these rules.
11.1 Tumakazi is a marketplace connecting clients and freelancers. We don’t guarantee the quality, timeliness or outcome of any project. You hire freelancers at your own risk.
11.2 To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect, incidental or consequential damages. Our total liability to you is limited to the total platform fees you’ve paid us in the 12 months before the claim.
You may close your account anytime by contacting us. Outstanding projects must be resolved (completed or mutually cancelled) before closure. We may suspend or terminate your account if you breach these Terms, circumvent payments or harm our community.
We may update these Client Terms occasionally. If we make material changes, we’ll notify you by email or through a notice on the platform. Continuing to use Tumakazi after the update means you accept the new terms.
For questions, escalations or missing Escrow URLs, reach us at info@tumakazi.com.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Kenya. Any legal action shall be brought exclusively in the courts of Nairobi, Kenya.