Kenya flagTransportation & Infrastructure Guide · Kenya

Transportation & Infrastructure Guide in Kenya

Public transit, airports, and getting around

Kenya, East Africa's transport powerhouse, features a vast 247,000 km road network handling 80% of cargo and serving as gateway for Uganda, Rwanda, and beyond via Mombasa Port. With 373 airports led by Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta hub, connectivity is strong regionally, though public transport leans on matatus amid urban congestion. Ambitious plans to dual 19 highways and expand airports signal growth, balancing strengths in scale against maintenance and integration challenges for 53M residents and visitors driving on the left.
Public Transport
Below Average
Road Infrastructure
Moderate
Public Transport
4.2/10

Basic public transport dominated by ~100,000 matatus (minibuses) providing flexible urban and intercity service, supplemented by buses. Limited rail (2,066 km meter gauge linking Mombasa-Nairobi-Uganda) with low frequency. No metro systems; poor mode integration, accessibility gaps, and variable reliability outside major cities like Nairobi and Mombasa.

Road Infrastructure
5.8/10

Extensive 246,757 km network (44K km national trunk roads, 118K km county) superior to neighbors, with plans to dual 19 major highways for regional trade. Heavy traffic damages roads requiring repairs; urban congestion erodes productivity. Trans-African Highways 4 pass through; maintenance uneven, safety features basic on high-traffic corridors.

Internet Speed
5.2/10

Average fixed broadband ~45 Mbps, mobile ~35 Mbps per 2025 Speedtest data. Fiber expanding in Nairobi/Mombasa via Safaricom/ZTE projects, but rural-urban gap persists with 4G dominant outside cities. Privatized telecoms drive growth, supporting one of sub-Saharan Africa's higher user bases.

Avg: 45+ Mbps • Urban expansion (Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu); limited rural, 4G/5G primary for most access

Airport Connectivity
7.6/10

373 airports including 17 major (paved runways); Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta key regional hub for East/Central Africa flights to Europe, Middle East, Africa. Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu handle international/domestic; expansions add runways/terminals. Strong for 200M+ population catchment despite efficiency issues.

Hubs: Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO), Mombasa Moi (MBA), Eldoret (Eldoret Int.), Kisumu (KIS)

Transportation Costs

Metro Pass
N/A (no metro; matatu season pass ~KES 2,000/month Nairobi)
Bus Trip
KES 50-100 single ride (matatu/bus)
Taxi
KES 200 start + KES 100/km (Uber/Bolt cheaper)
High-speed Train
N/A (SGR Mombasa-Nairobi ~KES 3,000 economy)

Mobile Network

5G Coverage: Major cities (Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu) since 2021, expanding to highways 2025-2026 via Safaricom/Airtel
4G Coverage: Extensive 90%+ population coverage, strong urban/rural from Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom

Reliable networks with rapid cellular growth; Safaricom dominates at 70% market share. High mobile penetration supports matatu apps and digital payments, though rural drops and congestion affect peak speeds.

Driving License

IDP requiredConversion needed

Foreign licenses valid 90 days with IDP (required for non-English); Kenyan license needed after 12 months residency via NTSA test/conversion. Left-hand driving; visitors advised IDP + original license.