How to Call Kenya from US
Quick Answer
To call Kenya from the United States:
- Landline:
011 + 254 + Area Code (1-2 digits, drop leading 0) + Local Number - Mobile:
011 + 254 + Mobile Prefix (e.g., 7xx, 1xx) + Subscriber Number (usually 7-8 digits)
Examples:
- For a Nairobi landline (Area Code 20):
011 + 254 + 20 + XXXXXXX - For a Kenyan mobile phone (e.g., Safaricom 722):
011 + 254 + 722 XXXXXX
Kenya is in the East Africa Time Zone (EAT), which is UTC+3. This is 7 or 8 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET), depending on US Daylight Saving Time.
How to Dial Kenya from the US
How to Call a Landline in Kenya
To call a Kenyan landline from the United States, follow these steps:
- Step 1 – Dial the US exit code: Start by dialing
011. - Step 2 – Dial Kenya's country code: Next, key in
254. - Step 3 – Dial the Kenyan Area Code: Kenyan area codes are 1 or 2 digits. If you have a local number starting with '0' (e.g.,
020for Nairobi), drop the leading '0' and dial20. - Step 4 – Dial the local phone number: Dial the remaining digits of the local number (typically 5-7 digits).
For example, to call a Nairobi number that is locally 020 XXX XXXX, you would dial: 011 254 20 XXX XXXX
How to Call a Mobile Phone in Kenya
Calling a Kenyan mobile phone from the US involves these steps:
- Step 1 – Dial the US exit code: Start by dialing
011. - Step 2 – Dial Kenya's country code: Next, key in
254. - Step 3 – Dial the Kenyan mobile number: Kenyan mobile numbers are typically 9 digits long and start with a prefix like
7xx(e.g.,722,733) or1xx(e.g.,110). Do NOT drop the leading7or1of the 9-digit mobile number.
For example, if the Kenyan mobile number is 722 123 456, you would dial: 011 254 722 123 456 from the US.
Understanding Kenyan Phone Numbers
Kenyan phone numbers are structured with the country code +254, followed by an area code for landlines or a mobile prefix, and then the subscriber number. The total length of a number after +254 is usually 9 digits for mobiles and can vary for landlines (often 7-9 digits in total after +254, depending on the area code length).
Landline Numbers
- Format from US:
011 + 254 + Area Code (1-2 digits, drop leading 0) + Local Number - Example: Nairobi landline
011 + 254 + 20 + XXXXXXX
Mobile Numbers
- Format from US:
011 + 254 + Mobile Number (9 digits, usually starting with 7xx or 1xx) - Example:
011 + 254 + 7XX XXXXXXor011 + 254 + 1XX XXXXXX
Kenyan Area Codes (Major Cities)
This is a list of major city area codes for landlines in Kenya. Remember to dial 011 + 254 before these codes (dropping any leading '0' from the local area code) and then the local number.
| City/Town | Area Code (Dial after 254) |
|---|---|
| Nairobi | 20 |
| Mombasa | 41 |
| Kisumu | 57 |
| Nakuru | 51 |
| Eldoret | 53 |
| Thika | 67 |
| Malindi | 42 |
| Kitale | 54 |
| Garissa | 46 |
| Nyeri | 61 |
| Machakos | 44 |
| Meru | 64 |
Kenyan Mobile Phone Prefixes
Kenyan mobile numbers typically start with prefixes like 7xx or 1xx after the country code +254. The total mobile number length after +254 is 9 digits.
| Operator | Common Prefixes (after 254) |
|---|---|
| Safaricom | 700-708, 71x, 72x, 740-743, 745, 746, 748, 757-759, 768, 769, 79x, 110-115 |
| Airtel Kenya | 709 (Equitel MVNO), 73x, 750-756, 762 (Equitel MVNO), 78x, 100-102 |
| Telkom Kenya | 77x |
*Number portability is active in Kenya, so a prefix may not always indicate the current operator.
Time Difference
Kenya is in the East Africa Time Zone (EAT), which is UTC+3.
The time difference compared to the US East Coast (ET):
- During US Standard Time (EST, UTC-5): Kenya is 8 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EST is 8 PM EAT).
- During US Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4): Kenya is 7 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EDT is 7 PM EAT).
Kenya's Phone System
Kenya has one of the most developed telecommunications infrastructures in East Africa. Mobile phone penetration is very high, with extensive 3G, 4G, and growing 5G coverage, especially in urban areas. Mobile money services (like M-Pesa) are widespread. Landline use has declined but is still present. Internet access is widely available, with fiber optic connections expanding in cities.
Best Times to Call
Considering the time difference (Kenya is 7-8 hours ahead of US ET):
- A good window for business calls from the US is typically early morning ET (e.g., 8 AM - 10 AM ET), which corresponds to mid-afternoon in Kenya (3 PM - 6 PM EAT, depending on US DST).
- Kenyan business hours are generally Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EAT.
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- Dial the local access number provided with your card.
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- Dial the Kenyan number:
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