Check whether you are exempt from Kenya's eTA and obtain approval before travel when required. On arrival, dependable data, WhatsApp, Google Maps, Uber and Bolt cover the most common urban needs. A passport-registered Safaricom SIM can also unlock M-PESA, which is unusually valuable for small merchants, transport and local services, but keep a working card and Kenyan shillings until registration and funding have been tested. My-OneApp is the current Safaricom app; the older M-PESA app name is stale, and *334# or the SIM Toolkit remains an important fallback. Ride-app coverage and driver supply fall sharply outside supported cities, so arrange safari and remote transfers with a verified operator. Check current regional advice, protests, weather and road conditions, and favor daylight for long road journeys. Use only official eTA, Kenya Railways and park-payment sites. Verify safari operators through the Tourism Regulatory Authority, keep the agreed itinerary and inclusions in writing, and independently confirm any changed payment request.
Safaricom's current app for registered M-PESA payments, balances, airtime and data on a compatible local line.
A new Kenya-focused app that sends local merchant payments from Apple Pay or a contactless card on an NFC Android phone.
These apps need data
Guac eSIM covers Kenya with plans from $1.50 per GB. Install it before you land and activate instantly.
How to Pay in Kenya