Travel eSIM for Kenya: Local eSIM vs Travel eSIM

Nestled on the eastern coast of Africa, Kenya is a captivating tapestry of vibrant landscapes, diverse cultures, and rich biodiversity that captures the essence of the continent. Planning to travel to the captivating East African nation, and looking to get an eSIM for your trip? Read on to find out more!

Major telco operators in Kenya

Kenya has a few major telecommunications operators that dominate the market. These operators provide a wide range of services, including mobile telephony, data services, and internet connectivity. The top three players in Kenya are Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, and Telkom Kenya.

Of the three, Safaricom is widely known to be the leading telco with the best services and network coverage. However, they are also relatively more expensive than the other telcos.

On the other hand, Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya offer cheaper rates. Historically, their services have been known to be relatively more unstable than Safaricom, but they have in recent years greatly improved their services. Today, Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya are known to also be reliable while offering cheaper rates than Safaricom.

Getting a local eSIM from a telco operator in Kenya

Of the three major operators, Safaricom and Airtel offer eSIMs. As of writing, Telkom Kenya does not provide eSIM support.

Getting a local SIM or local eSIM is one of the cheapest ways to get connected in Kenya. If you are looking to get a local SIM or eSIM in Kenya, there are some key things to note:

• Although Safaricom and Airtel Kenya have eSIM support, it is important to note that only Safaricom sells tourist eSIMs at the airport. Airtel Kenya does not sell tourist eSIMs at the airport. But, the Safaricom shop at the airport is not open 24 hours.
• You will need to provide identity documents when getting a local SIM card or eSIM, and it is not possible for you to get it online in advance. You will need to get the local SIM/eSIM in person after arrival.
• Make sure to check for device compatibility. While your device might be eSIM-compatible, the local telcos may not have eSIM support for your device. Support for the newer iPhone and Samsung devices is generally available, but if you are on other phone brands, you might want to double check if the telcos provide eSIM support for your device.

Skip the hassle and uncertainty, get a Nomad eSIM for Kenya instead

If you are intending to get an eSIM for your travel, consider getting a travel eSIM ahead of your trip instead.

The beauty of travel eSIMs is the convenience it brings about. Skip the hassle of having to queue at the airports or counters upon arrival, and the uncertainty of whether the local telcos can provide eSIM support for your device.

If your phone is eSIM-compatible, and you want to leverage the convenience of eSIMs, getting a travel eSIM from Nomad is a good idea.

Sure, the prices of travel eSIMs for Kenya might not be as cheap as getting one from a local telco -- but the slighlty higher prices come with greater convenience and assurance!

You can easily buy your eSIM in advance (even ahead of your trip!) and install it in the comfort of your home. Simply create an account with Nomad on the Nomad web store or mobile app, choose a plan of your choice, and check out.

Receive your QR code and installation kit after a successful purchase, and install the eSIM in the comfort of your home.

Nomad's eSIM for Kenya

Nomad's eSIM for Kenya uses the Airtel network. There are various plans ranging from 1GB to 10GB, with prices ranging from 10USD to 37USD.

In the event where you run out of data and need to buy more, you can also easily purchase an add-on from the Nomad web store or App Store, and more data will allowance will be added to your eSIM. That means, you don't have to worry about having to install a second eSIM!