The +254 country code is for Kenya. Whether you're calling Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, or Nakuru, +254 is the prefix that connects you to Kenya's 56 million people.

Quick Answer: The country code +254 is for Kenya. All Kenyan numbers have 9 digits after +254. Mobile numbers start with 7 or 1. A Nairobi landline looks like +254 20 123 4567 and a mobile like +254 712 345 678.

How to call Kenya: quick reference

The dialing format depends on where you're calling from. Kenya uses a domestic trunk prefix of 0, which you drop when dialing internationally.

Calling from Dialing format
US/Canada Mobile +254 [9-digit number]
US/Canada Landline 011-254-[9-digit number]
United Kingdom (UK) 00-254-[9-digit number]
Germany 00-254-[9-digit number]
Australia 0011-254-[9-digit number]
UAE 00-254-[9-digit number]

Kenya has a large diaspora, especially in the US, UK, and the Gulf states. The US is home to an estimated 130,000+ Kenyans, concentrated in Texas, Minnesota, and the Washington DC area. The UK, Canada, Australia, and the UAE also have sizable Kenyan communities.

Understanding Kenyan phone numbers

All Kenyan phone numbers are exactly 9 digits after the +254 country code. Within Kenya, people add a 0 before the number (so 0XXX-XXX-XXX). When calling from abroad, drop that 0 and dial +254 instead.

Mobile numbers

Mobile numbers dominate in Kenya. Like much of East Africa, landlines barely exist outside of offices. Almost everyone you'd call in Kenya is on a mobile.

The major carriers and their prefixes:

  • Safaricom: 070, 071, 072, 074, 079, 010, 011
  • Airtel Kenya: 073, 075, 078, 010 (some)
  • Telkom Kenya: 077

Safaricom has roughly 65% of the mobile market. Number portability exists but uptake is low -- most Kenyans stick with their original carrier, especially if they have M-Pesa tied to it (more on that below).

  • Length: 9 digits after +254.
  • Starting digit: Mobile numbers start with 7 or 1.
  • Example: Domestic 0712-345-678 becomes +254 712 345 678 internationally.

Landline numbers (fixed line)

Kenyan landlines use 2-digit area codes followed by a 7-digit local number:

  • Structure: 2-digit area code + 7-digit local number = 9 digits after +254.
  • Nairobi: Area code 20.
  • Other cities: Each has its own 2-digit code (e.g., 41 for Mombasa, 57 for Kisumu).
  • Trunk prefix: Drop the leading 0 when dialing from abroad.

You'll rarely call a Kenyan landline. Fixed-line subscriptions in Kenya number under 70,000 for the entire country. Businesses in Nairobi and Mombasa still use them, but for personal calls, it's mobile or nothing.

Kenya area codes reference table

Kenyan area codes are 2 digits. Nairobi's code (20) is the one you'll encounter most often since it's the business capital.

City Area code International format
Nairobi 20 +254 20 XXX XXXX
Mombasa 41 +254 41 XXX XXXX
Kisumu 57 +254 57 XXX XXXX
Nakuru 51 +254 51 XXX XXXX
Eldoret 53 +254 53 XXX XXXX
Nyeri 61 +254 61 XXX XXXX
Thika 67 +254 67 XXX XXXX
Malindi 42 +254 42 XXX XXXX
Nanyuki 62 +254 62 XXX XXXX
Garissa 46 +254 46 XXX XXXX

M-Pesa: why Kenyan phone numbers matter more than you think

Kenya invented mobile money. M-Pesa launched in 2007 through Safaricom and has since become the financial backbone of the country. Over 30 million Kenyans use M-Pesa to send money, pay rent, buy groceries, pay school fees, and receive salaries.

Your Kenyan phone number is your M-Pesa account number. This is why Kenyans almost never change their phone number -- switching means notifying everyone who sends you money, updating every bill payment, and potentially losing access to your transaction history.

If someone in Kenya gives you their phone number, you can be confident it's current and active. That number is their financial identity.

Don't confuse +254 (Kenya) with +255 (Tanzania)

Kenya and Tanzania are neighbouring East African countries with consecutive country codes. Both are popular destinations and have overlapping diasporas, so the confusion happens often.

Code Country Digits after code
+254 Kenya 9 digits
+255 Tanzania 9 digits

Both countries use 9-digit numbers, so the digit count won't help you distinguish them. You need to get the country code right.

Mobile vs. landline: how to tell the difference

You can tell whether a +254 number is mobile or landline by the first digit after the country code:

  • Starts with 7 or 1: A mobile number (e.g., +254 7XX or +254 1XX).
  • Starts with 2, 4, 5, or 6: Likely a landline number (city area code).

Calling rates to Kenyan mobile numbers are typically higher than landline rates, but you'll be calling mobiles almost exclusively.

Dialing examples

Here are practical examples for calling different types of Kenyan numbers:

Example 1: Calling a Nairobi landline from the US

  • Kenyan number (domestic): 020-123-4567
  • From a US mobile: +254 20 123 4567
  • From a US landline: 011 254 20 123 4567

Example 2: Calling a Kenyan mobile from the US

  • Kenyan number (domestic): 0712-345-678
  • From a US mobile: +254 712 345 678
  • From a US landline: 011 254 712 345 678

Example 3: Calling a Mombasa landline from the UK

  • Kenyan number (domestic): 041-234-5678
  • From the UK: 00 254 41 234 5678

Example 4: Calling from the UAE

  • Kenyan number (domestic): Any mobile (e.g., 0722-678-901)
  • From the UAE: 00 254 722 678 901

Best times to call Kenya

Kenya is on East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3) year-round. Kenya does not observe daylight saving time.

Here's how Kenyan time relates to other time zones:

Your location Time difference Call Kenya 9 AM - 6 PM
US East Coast (EST) Kenya is 8 hours ahead 1 AM - 10 AM EST
US East Coast (EDT) Kenya is 7 hours ahead 2 AM - 11 AM EDT
US West Coast (PST) Kenya is 11 hours ahead 10 PM - 7 AM PST (night before)
UK (GMT) Kenya is 3 hours ahead 6 AM - 3 PM GMT
UK (BST) Kenya is 2 hours ahead 7 AM - 4 PM BST
UAE (GST) Kenya is 1 hour behind 10 AM - 7 PM GST

Tip: Kenya is on the same UTC+3 as Turkey and Moscow, and that offset never changes. During US daylight saving time, the gap shrinks by one hour. The UK-Kenya gap shifts between 2 and 3 hours depending on whether the UK is on BST.

Common mistakes to avoid

Here are the most common mistakes when dialing the +254 country code:

  • Keeping the leading 0: Kenyan numbers start with 0 domestically. Drop it when dialing +254. Dial +254 712 (not +254 0712).
  • Dialing +255 instead of +254: Tanzania is +255, Kenya is +254. One digit off and your call goes to the wrong country.
  • Wrong digit count: Kenyan numbers are exactly 9 digits after +254. If you count 8 or 10, something is wrong.
  • Confusing the new 1XX prefixes: Kenya recently added mobile prefixes starting with 1 (like 0110, 0111). These are valid Kenyan mobile numbers, not landlines.

Cheapest ways to call +254 numbers

International calls to Kenya don't have to be expensive. Traditional carriers often charge $1-$4 per minute, but better options exist:

  • VoIP services: Services like CallSky.io offer competitive per-minute rates to Kenyan mobile and landline numbers. Check our international calling rates.
  • WhatsApp: WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in Kenya. If both sides have a data connection, voice and video calls are free.
  • International calling plans: UK and US carriers sometimes include Kenya in their international bundles. Check our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.

WhatsApp is the default for messaging and free calls in Kenya. For reaching someone without a data connection or for calling businesses, a VoIP service with Kenyan rates is your best option.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What country has the +254 country code?

The +254 country code is for Kenya. Any call from a number starting with +254 originates from Kenya.

How many digits is a Kenyan phone number?

Kenyan phone numbers have 9 digits after the +254 country code. Mobile numbers start with 7 or 1. Landlines use a 2-digit area code plus a 7-digit local number.

What is the area code for Nairobi?

The area code for Nairobi is 20. Internationally, dial +254 20 followed by the 7-digit local number.

How do I call Kenya from the USA?

From a mobile phone, dial +254 followed by the 9-digit Kenyan number (drop the leading 0). From a landline, dial the US exit code 011, then 254, then the 9-digit number.

What time zone is Kenya in?

Kenya is on East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3) year-round with no daylight saving time. That's 8 hours ahead of New York (EST) and 3 hours ahead of London (GMT).

What is the difference between +254 and +255?

+254 is Kenya and +255 is Tanzania. They're neighbouring countries with consecutive country codes. Check the last digit carefully.

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