How to Call Kenya From the US: Complete Guide (+254)

How to Dial Kenya From the US

Kenya uses the country code +254. Kenya is East Africa's economic hub and a tech leader on the continent. With a significant Kenyan diaspora in the US and growing business ties, calls between the two countries are common.

Dialling Format

From a US phone: 011 + 254 + number (without leading 0)

From a mobile with + dialling: +254 + number (without leading 0)

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Kenyan numbers start with 0 locally. Drop the leading 0 when calling from the US. A Nairobi number 020 XXX XXXX becomes 254 20 XXX XXXX.

Example Calls

Kenyan Mobile Carriers

Kenya is a mobile-first country. Landlines are rare outside large businesses. Here are the carriers:

Safaricom dominates overwhelmingly. If you are calling a Kenyan mobile, it is most likely Safaricom.

Cost Comparison

M-Pesa: Kenya's Communication Culture

You cannot understand Kenyan phone culture without understanding M-Pesa. Launched by Safaricom in 2007, M-Pesa is a mobile money system that transformed Kenya. Over 80% of Kenyan adults use it. Here is why it matters for calling: