Transportation & Infrastructure Guide in Kenya
Public transit, airports, and getting around
Public Transport
Road Infrastructure
Public Transport
4.2/10Basic 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
5.8/10Extensive 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
5.2/10Average 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
7.6/10373 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
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
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.
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