Kenya
M-PESA for local payments, two ride apps, and verified safari bookings
Check whether you are exempt from Kenya's eTA and obtain approval before travel when required.
The essentials
What to know before you go to Kenya
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.
Ride Hailing
UberEssential
A strong first ride app in Nairobi, Mombasa and Uasin Gishu, with live trip tracking and an upfront estimate.
BoltEssential
The ride app with the broadest currently documented Kenyan city footprint and a useful comparison with Uber.
Little
A current Kenyan ride-hailing app and practical backup for checking another nearby driver pool.
inDrive
A fare-agreement ride backup where the app shows live Kenyan driver supply at the requested location.
Food Delivery
GlovoEssential
The strongest first Kenyan app for restaurant, grocery and convenience delivery where the entered address is served.
Uber Eats
A useful delivery alternative in its published Kenyan service areas, especially for travelers with an existing Uber account.
Bolt Food
A current restaurant and grocery delivery comparison in supported Kenyan neighborhoods, with cash, card or Bolt balance at checkout.
Payments
My-OneAppEssential
Safaricom's current app for registered M-PESA payments, balances, airtime and data on a compatible local line.
Tourist Tap
A new Kenya-focused app that sends local merchant payments from Apple Pay or a contactless card on an NFC Android phone.
Messaging
WhatsAppEssential
Kenya's practical messenger for coordinating with hotels, safari operators, guides, drivers and local businesses.
Navigation
Google MapsEssential
The strongest general Kenya map for place search, road navigation, traffic, saved pins and downloadable areas.
Organic Maps
A free fully offline map and navigation backup for regional drives, walks and trails when mobile data is weak.
Transit
ma3wise
A new Android planning aid for Nairobi matatu routes, stages and suggested boarding and alighting points.
Language
Google Translate
An optional Kiswahili text, camera and speech aid in a country where English already covers most visitor interactions.
Intercity Transport
BuuPass
The strongest general app for participating Kenyan intercity buses, seat selection and card or mobile-money checkout.
Kenya Airways
The current official app for booking, check-in, flight status and trip management on Kenya Airways services.
FlyJambojet
Jambojet's current Android app for domestic flight booking, check-in and trip management on its published routes.
Internet in Kenya
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- Registration requires your passport plus a photo, fingerprint, or other biometric check.
- Starter prices begin near 200 KES; compare the current data allowance before buying.
- Buy at an official carrier counter at the airport or at an official city store, and test the SIM before leaving.
- Airport prices are usually higher than city or online prices.
- A travel eSIM is the simpler option and avoids local SIM registration steps.
Ask staff to activate the local mobile-money service while setting up the SIM; doing it later is harder.
Local carriers
Safaricom
Best choice for broad coverage, including rural areas.
Airtel Kenya
Good-value option when price matters most.
Telkom Kenya
The weakest network here; choose it only for a clear price advantage.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in Kenya?
The essential apps for Kenya are Uber, Bolt, Glovo, My-OneApp, WhatsApp.
How many travel apps does Kenya have?
We've curated 17 apps across 8 categories for traveling in Kenya, including 6 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in Kenya?
Uber. A strong first ride app in Nairobi, Mombasa and Uasin Gishu, with live trip tracking and an upfront estimate.
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