Privacy Policy for E-HOST (EHostel)

Last updated: July 1, 2026

E-HOST (also referred to in-app as "EHostel") is operated by Gambit Communications, a Kenyan technology company. E-HOST connects tenants with hostel owners, and guests with local service businesses (such as laundry, food, and cleaning vendors), for accommodation near learning institutions across Kenya.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect through the app, how we use it, and your rights regarding that data. By using E-HOST, you agree to this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly to us, such as when you create an account, make a booking, or contact us. This includes:

Your name, email address, and phone number
Payment details, when you make or submit a booking payment (including M-Pesa paybill transaction details for manual payment submissions)
Content you post, such as hostel listings, business/service listings, and photos (for hostel owners and business sellers)

We also collect information automatically when you use the app, including:

Usage data (e.g. screens visited, features used)
Device information (device type, OS version, crash logs)
Location data — only when you choose to allow it, to help show hostels and services near you

2. How We Use Your Information

To create and manage your account (as a tenant, landlord/hostel owner, or business seller)
To process and confirm bookings and payments
To connect tenants with hostel owners and local service businesses
To send booking confirmations, payment confirmations, and app notifications
To respond to your support requests
To detect and prevent fraud, including fraudulent bookings or listings
To understand how the app is used and improve it, using analytics tools such as Firebase Analytics (data used for this purpose is anonymised)

3. Sharing of Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share your information only with:

Hostel owners or business sellers, when you make a booking or inquiry, so they can fulfill it
Service providers who help us operate the app, including Firebase (for authentication, data storage, and analytics) and payment processors handling M-Pesa transactions
Legal authorities, if required to do so under Kenyan law

E-HOST acts as a booking facilitator connecting guests and hostel owners; it is not a party to the resulting accommodation contract between them.

4. Payments

Payments made through the app (including M-Pesa paybill payments) are processed via our payment provider and/or submitted manually with a receipt for verification. We retain records of payment transactions as needed for booking confirmation, dispute resolution, and legal/accounting requirements.

5. Cookies and Tracking

The app may use analytics and tracking technologies (such as Firebase Analytics and advertising identifiers) to understand usage patterns and, where applicable, support advertising features. This data is used solely to improve our services and is anonymised where possible.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. However, no method of internet transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us (see Section 9).

8. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected such data, please contact us immediately so we can remove it. Additionally, you must be at least 18 years old to create an account on E-HOST.

9. Your Rights & Contact Us

You have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data. To exercise these rights, contact us at:

Email: gambitcommunicationsltd@gmail.com
Phone: 0114071449

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via the app or by email. Continued use of the app after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.