Last updated on 4 November 2026
Safaricom sells 7 GB of data for 30 days in Kenya for 1,000 shillings (about €6.91), and as a foreigner you register the SIM with your passport; you need that registered line for M-Pesa too. The POVNOMAD Kenya eSIM starts at €5.90 for 1 GB over 7 days or €22.90 for 7 days of Unlimited Smart, runs on Airtel in roaming and needs no registration in Kenya. As of 30 October 2026.
On price, Safaricom wins at every size: 20 GB cost €13.82 there, our 5 GB plan €19.90. The eSIM pays off if you head straight from the airport to a safari transfer, want your German number active next to it, or travel on to Tanzania. If you want to pay with M-Pesa, you need the Safaricom SIM anyway.
Local SIM, travel eSIM or roaming: what is the difference in Kenya?
| Local SIM (Safaricom prepaid) | Travel eSIM (POVNOMAD) | Roaming on your home contract | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 1,000 shillings (€6.91) for 7 GB/30 days, 2,000 shillings (€13.82) for 20 GB/30 days | €5.90 for 1 GB/7 days, €19.90 for 5 GB/30 days, €22.90 for 7 days Unlimited Smart | Kenya is outside EU roaming, your provider sets its own rates |
| What you need | valid passport for the SIM registration | eSIM-capable, unlocked phone | roaming enabled on your contract |
| M-Pesa | yes, after registration at a Safaricom shop | no | no |
| Kenyan number | yes | no, data only; WhatsApp and similar apps run over data | your home number |
| Network | Safaricom | Airtel 5G, assignment variable (product page) | partner network of your provider |
| Hotspot | not checked | yes | depends on your contract |
As of 30 October 2026. Safaricom prices from safaricom.co.ke (data bundles with expiry), M-Pesa rules from Safaricom’s registration page, POVNOMAD prices from the Kenya product page. Converted at the Central Bank of Kenya rate of 30 October 2026 (€1 = 144.74 shillings).
How much does a SIM card cost in Kenya?
Safaricom publishes its data bundles with prices on its website, so we quote Safaricom. All bundles in the table run for 30 days. We did not compare Airtel Kenya’s bundles.
| Safaricom data bundle | Included | Price | in euros |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 1 GB, 30 days | 250 shillings | €1.73 |
| 2.5 GB | 2.5 GB including WhatsApp, 30 days | 500 shillings | €3.45 |
| 7 GB | 7 GB including WhatsApp, 30 days | 1,000 shillings | €6.91 |
| 20 GB | 20 GB including WhatsApp, 30 days | 2,000 shillings | €13.82 |
| 40 GB | 40 GB including WhatsApp, 30 days | 3,000 shillings | €20.73 |
Source: safaricom.co.ke, data with expiry, retrieved 30 October 2026. Without a bundle, Safaricom charges 4.3 shillings per MB from your airtime. The page lists no price for the SIM card itself. Euro amounts at €1 = 144.74 shillings (Central Bank of Kenya, 30 October 2026).
Compare that with travel eSIMs bought before departure, as of 30 October 2026:
| Plan | POVNOMAD | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | €5.90 (7 days) | €7.50 (3 days) |
| 3 GB | €12.90 (15 days) | €18.00 (7 days) |
| 5 GB, 30 days | €19.90 | €29.50 |
| 10 GB, 30 days | €34.90 | €44.50 |
| Unlimited, 7 days | €22.90 (1 GB a day at full speed) | – |
| Unlimited, 15 days | €43.90 (1 GB a day at full speed) | – |
Read on 30 October 2026 on povnomad.com and airalo.com/de/kenya-esim (EUR view). “–” = no such plan for Kenya alone. Unlimited Smart: 1 GB at full speed per 24 hours, then up to 1 Mbit/s.
How do you register a Kenyan SIM as a tourist?
Kenya requires every SIM to be registered to a person. The Registration of Telecommunications Service Subscribers Regulations 2025 (Legal Notice No. 90 of 2025) list a passport or a Foreign National Registration Certificate as the documents for foreign nationals. As a tourist, your passport is what counts.
- Bring the original passport; Safaricom does not accept photocopies or photos of an ID for M-Pesa.
- Make sure the name on your SIM registration matches your passport exactly. Safaricom asks foreign nationals for that before M-Pesa works.
- Check that your phone has no network lock.
- If your phone takes only one physical SIM, the Safaricom card replaces your German SIM, and bank codes by text stop reaching you. An eSIM runs next to your home SIM.
Sources: Kenya Law, Legal Notice No. 90 of 2025, as summarised by the law firm CM Advocates on 3 July 2025; Safaricom, register for M-Pesa. Both read on 30 October 2026.
Can tourists use M-Pesa in Kenya?
Yes, with a Safaricom line. Safaricom accepts a valid foreign passport for M-Pesa registration, which is free and open to anyone aged 18 or over. You need a Safaricom SIM registered in your own name. With a foreign passport you register only at a Safaricom shop or care desk; M-Pesa agents and dealers accept only the Kenyan national ID. After registration you receive a start PIN by text and set your own four-digit PIN.
A travel eSIM gives you no access to M-Pesa, because it is not a Safaricom line. If you want to pay by M-Pesa, buy the Safaricom SIM. You can still keep the eSIM for data if your phone holds two lines.
Source: safaricom.co.ke, register for M-Pesa, page updated on 15 October 2026, read on 30 October 2026.
When is the eSIM the better choice, and when is it not?
The eSIM costs more than Safaricom. It is ready when you land, so you can message your lodge or safari driver before you reach a shop. Install it at home on Wi-Fi (instructions for iPhone and Android); validity starts on first contact with the Kenyan network. How the signal holds up in the Masai Mara and how to switch eSIMs at the border to Tanzania is in our guide to Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The Safaricom SIM is the better deal in these cases:
- You use more than 1 GB. Safaricom gives you 7 GB for €6.91, our 5 GB plan costs €19.90.
- You want to pay with M-Pesa.
- You need a Kenyan number for calls inside the country.
This guide is also available in German.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Safaricom SIM cost for tourists?
Safaricom’s 30-day data bundles cost 250 shillings for 1 GB, 1,000 shillings (about €6.91) for 7 GB and 2,000 shillings for 20 GB. The page lists no price for the SIM card itself. As of 30 October 2026.
What do I need to register a SIM card in Kenya?
Your valid passport. Under the Regulations of 2025 (Legal Notice No. 90), foreign nationals register with a passport or a Foreign National Registration Certificate. As of 30 October 2026.
Can I use M-Pesa as a tourist in Kenya?
Yes, with a Safaricom SIM registered in your name. Registration with a foreign passport is free, open from age 18 and possible only at a Safaricom shop or care desk, not at agents. As of 30 October 2026.
Does M-Pesa work with a travel eSIM?
No. M-Pesa runs on a Safaricom line registered to you, and a travel eSIM is not one. With a dual-SIM phone you can use the Safaricom SIM for M-Pesa and the eSIM for data. As of 30 October 2026.
Is a local SIM cheaper than an eSIM in Kenya?
Yes. Safaricom charges €6.91 for 7 GB over 30 days; our 5 GB plan costs €19.90 and Airalo’s €29.50. The eSIM saves you the shop visit and works on landing. As of 30 October 2026.
Which network does the POVNOMAD Kenya eSIM use?
Airtel 5G according to the product page; the network assignment can vary. Hotspot is included. As of 30 October 2026.
How do I know if these prices are still current?
We read every price on 30 October 2026 on safaricom.co.ke, povnomad.com and airalo.com. Safaricom charges in shillings, so the euro amount changes with the exchange rate. Check the operator’s page before you buy.
Last updated on 30 October 2026. Prices read on that day on safaricom.co.ke, povnomad.com and airalo.com; exchange rate of the Central Bank of Kenya of 30 October 2026. Prices and rules may change at any time.