Kenya
Kenya runs on M-Pesa — mobile money for everything. Uber and Bolt cover rides; Glovo for delivery.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
All apps →
The most widely available rideshare service globally. Works in 70+ countries.
Wide coverage in Nairobi and Mombasa.
European rideshare with cheaper fares than Uber in many cities. Also offers scooters.
Often cheaper than Uber.
💳Payments & Wallets
All apps →
East Africa's mobile money — Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique. Pay anyone by phone number; in Kenya the app is now Safaricom's My OneApp.
Essential — used for nearly every transaction in Kenya. Needs a Safaricom SIM registered with your passport at a Safaricom shop.
🗺️Navigation & Maps
All apps →
Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.
Strong for cities.
📱Messaging
All apps →
The dominant messenger in Europe, Latin America, India, Middle East, Africa.
Universal for safari operators, drivers.
🍱Food Delivery
All apps →
Spanish food + parcel delivery, big in Portugal, Italy, Eastern Europe, and Africa.
Food and grocery delivery in Nairobi and other major cities.
Is Kenya one stop of several?
Add your other destinations and get one combined app list, with the adapters and currencies for the whole trip.
The practical basics
Power & plugs
- Plug type
- G
- Voltage
- 240V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
- Type G: Three rectangular pins. The British plug, used in UK, Ireland, HK, Singapore, Malta, much of Africa and Middle East.
British plug (colonial inheritance).
Tipping
Tipping is appreciated but not always expected; leaving around 10% at restaurants is common where service isn't included. On safaris, tipping guides, drivers, and lodge staff is customary and an important part of their income.
CurrencyKES
Swahili you'll actually use
Etiquette and scams to know
✓ Do
- Greet people before getting to business; a handshake and asking 'Habari?' (How are you?) is expected and rushing is seen as rude.
- Use your right hand or both hands to give and receive items and to shake hands.
- Dress modestly, especially in rural areas and on the largely Muslim coast where covering shoulders and knees is respectful.
- Always ask permission before photographing people, particularly Maasai and other communities, who may expect a small fee.
- Show respect to elders, who are greeted first and addressed with deference.
- Learn a few Swahili words like 'jambo' (hello) and 'asante' (thank you), which are warmly received.
✕Don't
- Do not photograph government buildings, airports, military, or police, which can lead to detention.
- Avoid public displays of affection and same-sex affection, as homosexuality is criminalized and socially taboo.
- Don't show disrespect toward elders or use your left hand for greetings and eating.
- Avoid wearing camouflage or military-style clothing, which is illegal for civilians in Kenya.
⚠️ Common scams to know
- Fake 'safari operators' or street agents take deposits for tours that don't exist, so book through licensed, well-reviewed companies.
- Friendly strangers posing as students, refugees, or fellow travelers spin sob stories to ask for money or 'school fees'.
- Taxi drivers without meters may quote inflated fares, so agree on a price beforehand or use a ride app like Uber or Bolt.
- Curio sellers and touts near markets and parks heavily inflate prices for tourists, expecting hard bargaining.
This page was last reviewed in September 2026. Apps launch, rebrand and pull out of countries all the time, so confirm anything your trip depends on. Spotted something out of date? Tell us — here's how we check.