The birthplace of mobile money welcomes you
Heads up
Kenya is a pioneer in mobile payments, and M-Pesa is woven into daily life here. Nearly everything can be paid for via M-Pesa, from street food to safari bookings. Getting a local Safaricom SIM card at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and registering for M-Pesa should be your first move. Uber and Bolt work well in Nairobi and Mombasa, while smaller towns rely more on local matatus (minibuses) and boda bodas (motorcycle taxis). English and Swahili are both official languages, and most apps support English. Nairobi's traffic can be brutal during rush hours, so plan trips outside peak times or use ride-hailing apps that show estimated arrival times.
Last updated: May 2026
Available in Nairobi and Mombasa with reliable coverage. Offers UberX, UberXL, and UberChapChap (a more affordable motorcycle and tuk-tuk option). Upfront pricing in Kenyan shillings makes budgeting easy.
A popular alternative to Uber in Nairobi and Mombasa, frequently offering lower fares. The driver network is large, which means short wait times even during off-peak hours.
A Kenyan-built ride-hailing app developed in partnership with Safaricom. It integrates directly with M-Pesa for payments, making it the most seamless cashless ride option if you already have M-Pesa set up.
The leading delivery app in Nairobi, covering restaurant meals, groceries, and everyday essentials. Strong selection of both local Kenyan cuisine and international options. Delivery is fast in central Nairobi.
A food delivery platform with wide restaurant coverage across Nairobi. Good for discovering local spots serving nyama choma, pilau, and other Kenyan staples alongside more familiar international fare.
Kenya's revolutionary mobile money platform and the single most important app for any traveler in the country. Used by over 80% of the adult population, M-Pesa handles everything from paying for groceries and restaurant bills to settling taxi fares and buying safari tickets. Operated by Safaricom, it works via a simple SIM-based system.
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