Two years ago, on September 20, 2021, Netflix rolled out a free plan in Kenya in a push to get more sign-ups and hopefully subscriptions if those who join enjoy binge-worthy movies and TV shows in its extensive library.
They did get more sign-ups, but for paid subscriptions…you know Kenyans. Netflix brought a kind of streaming revolution. But now, users who have enjoyed free access since then will be handed the bill sooner at the beginning of next month – No more free Netflix.
“On November 1st, 2023, the Free plan will no longer be available, and your membership will end,” reads a communication sent to such customers by the popular American streamer founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in 1997, debuting in the Kenyan market in 2016.
Netflix is holding up well and is now targeting those cost-conscious consumers with its cheapest Mobile plan that starts at Ksh200, in which subscribers enjoy exclusive content without sponsored interruptions for one month.
Aside from the Netflix Mobile package, there are three more subscription offerings: Basic, Standard, and Premium, the most expensive plan in Kenya for Ksh1,100 per month. Check out all its pricing information;
Plan
Price in Kenya (2023)
Mobile
Ksh200 per month
Basic
Ksh300 per month
Standard
Ksh700 per month
Premium
Ksh1,100 per month
To sign up for Netflix on your phone, download the Netflix app, register, and subscribe to your package of choice. The good thing is you can pay it using Mpesa Globalpay on the Mpesa application available on all app marketplaces.
Kenya is putting many thousands of shillings in the pockets of those at the bottom end of the pay scale than any of her counterparts in East Africa – Tanzania and Uganda. It has a higher minimum wage.
A minimum wage is the minimum amount of remuneration that an employer is required to pay wage earners for the work performed during a given period, which cannot be reduced by a collective agreement or an individual contract, the International Labour Organization defines.
A fairer minimum wage that slightly matches or exceeds the living costs increases the work productivity of low-income individuals, promotes job satisfaction, and improves their standard of living as an enabler of moving out of poverty.
It also has a demonstrably positive overall impact on the economy because its consequent stimulation of consumer demand and the resultant robust spending help boost businesses and job growth. This can be the longest-searched answer to why Kenya has the strongest gross domestic product (GDP) of $110.3 billion than Tanzania and Uganda combined.
Kenya has been gradually adjusting its minimum wage proportionately to the soaring median wages to cushion employees in the lowest tier from the cost of living crisis and to fix income inequality. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the national minimum wage in Kenya is Ksh15,201.65 per month for lower-paid workers like cleaners, sweepers, gardeners, watchmen (security guards), and domestic servants.
This figure sharply differs from the wage floors of the same group in Tanzania, which gets a monthly minimum of Tsh120,000 (roughly Ksh7,000), and in Uganda, Ush6,000.
Uganda’s outdated subminimum wage has never been legally reviewed since 1984, leading to the overexploitation of workers in the job space and a further increase in internal poverty levels.
The minimum wage in Kenya depends on occupation, sector, and location; for instance, The lowest monthly salary that loggers, miners, cooks, waiters, waitresses, bartenders, and cooks can receive in the cities of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru is Ksh16,417.90, more than those in similar professions but different localities who receive Ksh9,370.30.
In the Regulation of Wages Amendment, implemented in May 2022, the minimum wage of tailors and drivers is Ksh25,804.15, Ksh34,302.75 for cashiers, and between Ksh20,517.85 and Ksh34,302.75 for ungraded artisans to those in Grade III.
Workers in the Kenyan private sector earn more than either Tanzania or Uganda, who earn a monthly payment of about Tsh400,000 (Ksh23,000 on average) and Ush270,000 (slightly over Ksh10,000), respectively. They make a median of Ksh30,000 every month.
Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki, in charge of the docket responsible for internal security, has said they will not conduct Kenya police recruitment in 2023 until next year.
Reason? While speaking before Members of Parliament, CS Kindiki told them that the National Police Service (NPS) will not maintain its workforce levels this year due to lateness.
“We shall be conducting the recruitment early next year…we cannot have it this year. We are late.” He said.
The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) was to recruit extra law enforcement officers in April 2023, but the exercise was jeopardized by financial constraints. The National Treasury had suggested the recruitment drive to take place in April 2024, when the funds would be ready, but Inspector General (IG) Japhet Koome objected, saying he needed more police to tackle the rising level of serious crime in the country.
“Myself, I cannot see recruiting in 2024. How can I do that with the shortfall I have?” the Inspector General complained.
The 2023 to 2024 funding package for police recruitment from the Treasury is Ksh8.2 billion – Ksh5.2 billion for recruiting a target 10,000 officers, including for Kenya Prisons Service, Ksh2 billion for equipment upgrade, the remaining Ksh1 billion will fund the activities of NPS Level 4 Hospital in Nairobi.
CS Kindiki expressed confidence that the Kenya Police 2023 Recruitment, which has been rescheduled to 2024, will be free and fair of bribe.
Motorists parking their vehicles in Nairobi will have to pay more to get a parking ticket, as the county government hopes to single-handedly raise Ksh20 billion in their Finance Bill 2023/2024 to reinvigorate economic activity and growth around Kenya’s capital.
The hiking of parking rates is also an effort to come to grips with the looming city’s congestion problem as it is an enabler to covering growing maintenance costs and opening up new parking bays.
In inner areas near Nairobi City Centre, known as Parking Zone I, covering the Central Business District (CBD) including Kijabe Street, Westlands, Upperhill, Community, Ngara, Highridge, Industrial area, Gigiri, Kilimani, Yaya Centre, Milimani, Hurligham, Lavington, Karen and Eastleigh, Muthaiga, Gikomba, Nairobi West areas, the parking charges for saloon cars increased by Ksh100 and it is now Ksh300.
For those driving minivans and five-tonne lorries and above, parking in Nairobi will be a costly affair, as they are set to pay even more – Ksh500 from the previous Ksh200 and Ksh3000 up from Ksh1000, respectively.
Parking fees vary citywide by zone, and at Parking Zone II, which includes designated on-street car parks, the unautomated ones in marketplaces, and all areas that are not listed in Zone One, Nairobi City County Government cut the rates from Ksh200 to Ksh100 for personal saloon cars and Ksh150 from the initial Ksh200 for parking vans and pickups.
Nairobians can use Nairobi Pay to view available parking zones across the city, see how much they will be charged for parking there, and make the payment.
Under the new finance bill, Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja aims to introduce free parking around religious centers, churches, mosques, and temples.
As universities raised their fees from four to five-figure Kenyan shillings for the September 2023 intake onwards, even as the minimum wage stagnates and harsh economic conditions prevail, the government is failing to provide the much-needed lifeline – Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans.
Students are already concerned about HELB delays and are doubting the effectiveness of the financial incentives from the state agency under the Ministry of Education, as most of them were issued with batch numbers earlier, before even the first semester of the academic year 2023/2024 began.
HELB is not making higher education more attainable to university students with no other funding options when university and technical college fees have outpaced normal household incomes, and some leaders are also concerned.
Recently, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who was the longest serving Chair (2011 – 2017) of the Student Organization of Nairobi University (SONU), now the University of Nairobi Students Association, abbreviated as UNSA, during his time as a comrade called out HELB for being slow in setting out students loan disbursement on time.
“I want to register my disappointment to HELB. By now, they haven’t released money to students in various universities. They are hungry and angry. Students cannot go to class, they cannot buy food, they cannot afford accommodation,” he said. But why has HELB not sent money to students?
Reasons for HELB student loan delays in 2023
It may be a matter of time before the stall in the disbursement of the Higher Education Loans Board HELB loans hit hard on a significant number of needy students among the over 500,000 who are pursuing their undergraduate studies in Kenyan universities and some 320,000 in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) depending on it for fee payment and upkeep.
It is almost certain that university graduates and college-educated people command a sizeable wage premium in the job space, but soon, the hopes of these students may be buried because, in many educational institutions, one cannot register for semester or course units while having a fee balance.
Charles Ringera, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HELB, told the Parliamentary Education Committee that they were aware that the financial aid package for students had not been dispatched in a timely manner and loan defaults were the accelerator of the problem.
HELB loans are monies received by students in higher learning institutions as government support to make education costs affordable. Due to its low-interest rates nature and extensive forbearance that allows beneficiaries a long repayment period after completing their education, Ringera says that a lot of them take advantage of it to defraud the critical empowerment tool by not paying their arrears thus preventing needy continuing students from getting financial assistance after making HELB applications because the funds allocated by the government is inadequate.
As of 2023, a total of 1,339,627 people had benefited from HELB since its inception, but 713,484 of them are matured student loan accounts that collectively hold Ksh93.49 billion in student debt.
Of these pending staggering loan sums, Ksh50.11 billion is yet to be cleared in 320,898 accounts, and Ksh15.22 billion is in default. HELB beneficiaries normally have five years and above to repay their student loans, and only 266,977 loanees have settled Ksh28.16 billion since this state education funder was started in 1995. This is the main contributor to the current crisis.
Secondly, the government changed the university funding model just this year in May, and we assume that HELB is still trying to adapt to the new system, which seeks to only fund the vulnerable. They may be scouring through the applicants’ documentary evidence of neediness right now to establish those who really need the money and the majority of you who always plan sherehe with them beforehand…
However, I am doubtful. Because HELB is one of the winners in the Financial Year 2023/24 Budget as it received a Ksh30.3 billion allocation from the National Treasury.
The MultiChoice-owned digital terrestrial platform GOtv is still, more than ten years into existence, considered the first choice by lifelong television fans who would want to watch the very best must-see live TV channels, sports, round-the-clock news feed, documentaries, reality series as well as access the rotating library of movies and episodes of endless binge-worthy shows.
GOtv got its start in 2011, and far from its tons of content for the whole family’s viewing needs, it has gained traction in Kenya due to its affordability in its six different price plans;
* GOtv Lite package: Ksh199/month
* GOtv Value package: Ksh649/month
* GOtv Plus package: Ksh999/month
* GOtv Max package: Ksh1,449/month
* GOtv Supa package: Ksh1,899/month
* GOtv Supa Plus package: Ksh3,500/month
What is GOtv Lite?
GOtv Lite is the cheapest subscription plan you can get from GOtv Kenya at a monthly price of Ksh199, with options of paying it Ksh500 quarterly (3 months) or Ksh1,200 annually.
With this lowest-priced basic package, you get access to slightly over 20 always-on channels that air shows of different genres;
GOtv Lite channels in 2024 Kenya
1. Maisha Magic East
2. Magic Showcase
3. SS Blitz
4. KBCTV
5. NTV
6. Citizen TV
7. KTN
8. KTN News
9. TV47
10. K24
11. Weru TV
12. Inooro TV
13. KASS TV
14. Kameme TV
15. Ramogi TV
16. Hope TV
17. JimJam
18. Akili Kids
19. Faith
20. Islam
21. Emmanuel TV
22. Al Jazeera
23. Classic FM
24. Milele FM
25. Radio Maisha
26. Hope FM
GOtv Lite package may be good for your pocket for its lower price subscription, but it is not an option if you want to watch multi-season hit movies, live sports programming, or stay up to date with what is going on around the world. For heaven’s sake, it has only one world news channel, Al Jazeera.
So if you want plenty of content, opt for GOtv Supa or GOtv Supa Plus, the most inclusive GOtv packages in Kenya with over 70 channels each, including several of SuperSport for live Premier League matches and WWE and international news channels CNN and BBC for real-time updates.
How to sign up for GOtv Lite
You can sign up for the GOtv Lite package right now through the MyGOtv App, GOtv website, or USSD *423# on your phone. All you need is to downgrade your GOtv package, and the easiest way to do it in Kenya is by following these steps: Visit selfservice.gotvafrica.com > Enter your mobile number as username and IUC number as password and click ‘SIGN IN’ > You will access GOtv Self Service dashboard. Go to ‘Build a Package’ option > Choose GOtv Lite package and click ‘Downgrade’ to shift from your initial TV plan > Pay the monthly price of Ksh199 to subscribe to GOtv Lite
Your GOtv Lite package will be activated within a few minutes. If you are not a GOtv subscriber, you can buy a decoder at Ksh1,999, and it comes with a free one-month GOtv Max subscription.
There is nothing more complicated than defining a nanny in Kenya. According to Collins Dictionary, a nanny is someone who is paid by parents to look after their child or children, and if this is the case, then their work transcends the mentioned duties in many Kenyan households.
Nannies clean, cook, provide childcare, and mostly, are in charge of homes when their employees, who are the owners of the homestead, are away on workdays. For that matter, they are always referred to as househelps, housemaids, maids, or ‘aunties,’ in special cases.
Househelps in Kenya are female domestic workers paid directly by their bosses or the parents of the home they work in, hired upon mutual agreement, but sometimes informal contracts are signed. Their salaries are not even subject to state deductions like National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and NSSF contributions.
Nannies, househelps, and maid jobs are the most available even when you are least connected because people find them through word of mouth, referrals, social media, or from a nanny agency.
But before landing employment, families always vet them in casual interviews at home to find out their background, social skills, and charisma and to learn about their experience with handling kids to find the right nanny.
If you are looking for or have just landed a nanny or housemaid job in Kenya, it is good to know how much you can earn to help you establish a baseline for your salary negotiations later in your hiring process:
What is the typical monthly salary for a nanny in Kenya? (2023)
Salaries for nannies, househelps, and maids vary considerably depending on where you work, in a deep sense to not only mean location but the economic status of the family you work for, and their average monthly salary ranges from Ksh6,000 to Ksh13,000 in most parts of Kenya and between Ksh8,000 and Ksh15,000 in urban areas of city status like Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Mombasa. Nannies working in super-rich families can make more than Ksh20,000.
Their rates also differ dramatically on the type of contract. Those on a full-time agreement as domestic househelps residing with their bosses earn a median salary of Ksh10,000 per month, but those hired on an irregular basis as caregivers, daytime maids, or babysitters make around Ksh8,000 every month.
What does the Kenyan law say about domestic workers’ jobs?
The Constitution of Kenya protects all employees, including all domestic workers like nannies, househelps, and maids, who, by their service, love, protect, and guide their employer’s children in a safe and nurturing environment when they are away to work.
As mandated by the Employment Act, household employees in Kenya are subject to the basic minimum conditions of contractual employment in which terms and conditions are timely and fairly met.
Nannies and househelps should work the required time as stipulated in their agreement and should rest at least once every seven days. After a year of progressive working, their employers should give them a fully paid 21-day leave to refresh, and in case they get pregnant, a three-month maternity leave (paid) is a must.
They are also entitled to a fully paid sick leave of seven days when they get sick after two months of consecutive service. All these are applicable when nannies, househelps, and maids serve a written notice not less than a week to their employers.
What are nanny pay rates as per law in Kenya?
In the Regulation of Wages (General) (Amendment) Order, 2022 of the Labour Institutions Act that is currently in effect, the minimum wage exclusive of housing benefits for domestic servants like nannies, househelps, and maids is Ksh15,201.65 per month in Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nakuru cities, Ksh14,025.40 in metro areas like Ruiru and Limuru and Ksh8,109.90 in other areas.
Their daily and hourly pay rates range from Ksh411 – Ksh731.50 and Ksh75.95 to Ksh135.90, respectively.
I have money. By now, you must have understood, declared, implemented, and normalized this rich’s internal and mental saying because it is a measure of success nowadays and even a long time ago. If it’s not, why is Solomon’s riches worth that hype, yet he was in the BC? Maybe money or riches rule the world or human desire in a deeper perspective.
When you say you have money, it is difficult to know whether you have it or you are just lying like everyone because there are people who money has them. A case in point is Babu Owino.
In my life, I am always selective and decisive, and that is why I will be quick to believe when the now Embakasi East legislator utilizes the three-word tongue twister for poor people who boast spiritual opulence. Is it right to tell someone you are with them in their poverty? If it is, then it is a pure lie.
Let me tell you about Babu Owino; did you know he spent over Ksh15m to campaign when he was at UON in 2015? 15m for a million, not meters. Do you first know that his real name is Paul Ongili? 6 years ago, he spent Ksh15 million to fund his third run for the Chairman’s position at the Students Organization of Nairobi University (SONU).
For your info, the born October 10, 1989 politician who graduated in 2012 with First Class honors in Actuarial Science from the University of Nairobi was merely 22 years old when he first led SONU in 2011.
He rejoined UON, the oldest and the biggest university in Kenya, this time pursuing law, and was on the SONU ballot and won his second term in 2014 after Denis Kiogora Dmk and Zack Kinuthia, the former Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of Education during Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, had served one term each in 2012 and 2013 respectively when he was away after completing the Actuarial degree. The Standard reported that he used Ksh4 million, which “came from contributions by students and friends.”
Because of the good leader that he was, he went for the seat again in 2015, for the third time, to break the record as the only permissible and cleared SONU chairmanship candidate to vie three times against the constitution that was very unclear.
His third stabbing saw some Ksh15,465,000 gone, but it was not used to massage the hands of the comrades for support, as you might think, because it was well budgeted for.
In Babu Owino’s campaign budget that clearly outlined the maximum use of each shilling, a big chunk of it went to the essentials like banners, posters, flyers, t-shirts, office supplies, hiring social media campaigners, roadshow trucks, and a public address system which cost almost Ksh6 million.
He also forked Ksh250,000 to purchase flight tickets to UON campuses in Kisumu and Mombasa, and presumably, because these flights would be boring because reportedly thick thighs save lives, the outspoken student leader of his time laid out some Ksh2,200,000 to get the help of 20 female student supporters in 11 constituent campuses who were paid Ksh200 every day for 50 days to provide the ambient environment for tasteful campaigns that would maybe lead to overwhelming support you know.
He also donated Ksh1 million to other SONU candidates and won with a landslide victory like normal. Babu Owino was loved as he always echoed the problems faced by comrades in Kenya, and during his period of leadership, university fees were moderate, and Helb used to be dispatched earlier, unlike now.
When his third term ended, he contested for the fourth time in 2017 and clinched the seat after outvoting rivals Suraj Mohamed and Mike Jacobs with over 10,000 votes. He later stepped down after winning ODM nominations for Embakasi East in preparations for the General Elections held in August of that year.
He still represents the constituency for a second term following the 2022 elections. In 2013, he was in the Westlands parliamentary race but lost the bid.
Since his exit as the SONU Chair, SONU has been changed to the University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA), in which its executive leadership is allowed to hold office for a year term and can only be legible for re-election once.
Digital transformations brought about by the internet during the difficult and worrying times caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) are enough to justify its importance in our lives far from just connecting people.
As consumers shifted to working from home, it played an instrumental role in ensuring the survival of many businesses as entrepreneurs leveraged mobile connectivity to touch on almost every aspect of life, including basics like food, which was delivered after making an order online. Even if you look at entertainment, every streamer, be it Netflix and the others, was around to make sure you had your favorite movie downloadable from your phone and other digital devices.
The internet supported almost everything, not excluding medicines, shopping, and every other thing that you thought you needed, proving how crucial it is. It helped keep our economies alive.
What about expanding opportunities? At that time, internet usage surged across the world’s and Kenyan populations as internet telephony services like video calls, conference calls, and social media became a new ‘language’ of communication.
As internet traffic increased, mobile operators and internet service providers (ISPs) had to expand their coverage and optimize their networks for reliability because understandably, people want fast and easy access to online resources.
Most people in Kenya use mobile networks to browse the internet, and at that time, in 2020, telecommunication company Safaricom switched on 5G, the next generation of cellular technology with blistering speeds, ten times more than that of 4G.
Airtel also followed suit, and its customers are now enjoying improved internet speeds. Some home Wi-Fi providers also flooded the market with speedy and affordable internet. Check out what you need to know about costs and internet providers in Kenya;
Who are internet service providers in Kenya?
The type of internet offerings based on technologies categorizes Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Kenya. The internet can be wireless or wired, then is further split depending on connection types to be either Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), fixed wireless, mobile internet, fiber, Wi-Fi, cable internet, satellite internet, or Dial-up Internet access. Some of these are no longer in use for failing to keep up with the digital age, that of fast communication.
For instance, fiber networks whose deployment of fiber optics infrastructure is expensive and vulnerable to disruptions are slowly losing room to wireless cellular broadband, Wi-Fi, satellite internet, and fixed wireless with spectrum efficiency for high-speed internet. They are also cheap to develop.
Broadband means an internet that is faster and uses transmission technologies of wide bandwidth to send and receive data. It includes cellular broadband, also mobile internet, for consumers who want internet services on the go, similar to the one on mobile phones. It is provided by companies like Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom, and Faiba JTL in Kenya.
There is home broadband that uses 4G and 5G networks over fixed wireless technology and gadgets like Wi-Fi that give access to hybrid networks that are flexible and stable but not as fixed-line home broadband, which may not be available in all areas and requires unique infrastructure support but have a high-data-rate connection to the internet.
Telephone companies like Safaricom and Airtel offer this type of internet in Kenya amongst private companies like SimbaNET, Valleypoint Telecoms, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Zuku, and more.
Satellite internet is the fastest above all as it uses the millimeter wave (MM Wave) extremely high transmission frequency above 30 GHz for insanely high speeds. In Kenya, Starlink Internet of Elon Musk provides satellite internet solutions with download speeds exceeding 200Mbps.
Internet cost breakdown in Kenya and Wi-Fi prices (2023)
The price you will pay for using the internet in Kenya depends on many things; first, your gadget. If you use a phone to surf the net, you can only purchase data bundles from your phone carrier for use from your SIM card.
That is not all. Buying data will vary from customer to customer on usage requirements. The more time you spend on the internet, the higher the amount payable for data packages. But generally, the best mobile internet provider in Kenya is Safaricom for its extensive 4G/5G coverage across the country, even though the fifth generation network is yet to be deployed in all parts of the country.
Safaricom internet bundles are more expensive than of other networks like Airtel, Telkom, and Faiba. A case in point is with Ksh100 on Safaricom, a customer buys 100MB, valid for three days, gets 5GB that expires within the same time on Telkom, and 2.5GB data on a Faiba SIM card.
However, the same does not apply to 5G monthly internet costs. Safaricom charges Ksh2,999 for 10Mbps per month, while Airtel Kenya costs Ksh3,500 for a similar 10Mbps valid for 30 days. On its part, Faiba JTL has not yet rolled out 5G, but its 4G Home packages are among the fastest internet and most reliable in Kenya, and its prices start at Ksh5,000 for unlimited 40Mbps per month up to 140Mbps for Ksh20,000/mo.
Telkom Kenya might come out as dead last in the ranking of best internet providers in Kenya, but it is the cheapest with special Freedom Friday 100GB data of one-month validity priced at Ksh1,500. How about that?
Other internet service providers charge between Ksh2,000 and Ksh4,500 for a wireless internet connection at your home. Mostly, they don’t charge installation fees.
Starlink is the most expensive internet provider in Kenya, especially its Starlink Business internet package, in which one pays Ksh13,572 every month, excluding its Equipment fee and shipping fees, which cost more than Ksh350,000.
How much does Wi-Fi cost in Kenya?
In Layman’s terms, Wi-Fi is an advanced mobile hotspot but more versatile in its connectivity operations out of interference from calls and shared network problems. That is why you need it.
To get Wi-Fi internet in Kenya, you must buy a router or ask ISPs like Safaricom, Zuku, and Faiba to install home broadband internet at your place. Not inclusive of any internet package, the Safaricom 4G Wi-Fi routers cost Ksh5,999 for the Adrian 3300 1 type and Ksh6,999 for the Huawei Router.
These 4G routers can connect a maximum of 32 users at the same time. 5G routers at Safaricom shops are Ksh9,999, and customers can access up to 100Mbps for Ksh14,999, every month.
Airtel 4G Smart Box Internet Router sells at Ksh7,499, and one gets 10GB 30-day free data after purchase. Its cheaper alternative is the Airtel Portable Pocket MiFi Wi-Fi Modem with a peak 150Mbps download speed, costing Ksh3,499.
Telkom Kenya sells its Wi-Fi routers at Ksh10,999, a bit more expensive than the Airtel 5G router, which is Ksh10,000 in 2023. BVOT Universal 4G/5G portable pocket Wi-Fi Hotspot Mi-Fi costs between Ksh4,000 to Ksh5,500.
On July 6, 2023, Airtel went live with its 5G service in Kenya to be the second operator to roll out the innovative network technology that is the future of mobile.
5G is the next phase of mobile networks that offers fiber-like broadband speeds than previous generations. According to Airtel Kenya Managing Director Ashish Malhotra, it provides data speeds up to 10 times faster than 4G because of an incredibly low latency, the amount of time a data packet sent via the internet reaches the receiver.
Low Latency means that Airtel 5G is more responsive than 4G, and while using it, you enjoy fast downloads, uninterrupted streaming, and quicker page loads. How can you use the Airtel 5G network in Kenya?
1. Confirm Airtel 5G coverage
5G needs significant investment in technology, finances, and infrastructure as it requires a dense network of masts and transmitters since its key spectrum facilitates only shorter distances of wave travel because of its higher frequencies. These hinder the fast implementation of the network, and thus, Airtel 5G deployment is focused more on cities than rural areas.
Airtel 5G is now available in towns across 21 counties, and the second-largest phone carrier in Kenya is working on expanding its coverage countrywide. See if 5G has arrived in your area;
* Ahero
* Bungoma Town
* Changach
* Dagoretti
* Eldoret Town
* Gitaru
* Juja
* Kakamega Town
* Kajiado Oloyiangalani
* Kamulu
* Karen
* Kariguini
* Kijabe
* Kiserian
* Kiambu Town
* Kilifi
* Kolol Resort
* Kyumvi
* Limuru Town
* Mai Mahiu
* Mariakani
* Maseno
* Mavueni
* Mazeras
* Machakos
* Mikindani
* Mnarani
* Mombasa City
* Msabaha
* Muthaiga
* Nakuru City
* Ngong
* Njoro
* Nyeri Town
* Ongata Rongai
* Ruiru
* Rungiri
* Shanzu
* Shimo la Tewa
* Siaya
* Tala, Machakos
* Thika Town
* Ukunda
* Waa
* Wangige
* Watamu
* Westlands
2. Choose an Airtel 5G-capable phone
Before you download movies in a flash, explore the world of virtual reality, or stream your favorite movie in HD on your phone using Airtel 5G, a capable device is required.
If you want to upgrade to a 5G-compatible phone in Kenya, this is a list of the best iPhone and Android phones that support Airtel 5G and their prices;
Be sure to check other phone brands as well to compare prices and save money while shopping for your favorite 5G phone. Nokia, OPPO, and Xiaomi have the best models that may suit your needs. You can also buy an Airtel 5G Router that connects up to 64 devices.
3. Select Airtel 5G data bundles plan
Airtel 5G currently has two main data plans: The 5G Home Broadband Package, allocated as data bundles starting from Ksh2,999, and the Enterprise Broadband Package, which lets you stay online without worrying about monthly data limits from as little as Ksh3,500 for 5G Unlimited 10Mbps.
The 5G Home Broadband Package gives you a combined total of 300GB or 600GB Airtel bundles, automatically issued in 10GB and 20GB amounts, respectively, consistently for 30 days. The Enterprise Broadband Package also has a one-month expiry, and the per line access charge of the fastest 5G is Ksh7,500 for 50Mbps.
Check out Airtel’s 5G data plans in Kenya;
Package
5G data plan/bundles
Monthly cost
5G Home Broadband
5G Ultra 300GB – 10GB daily
Ksh2,999
5G Home Broadband
5G Ultra 600GB – 20GB daily
Ksh3,000
Enterprise Broadband Package
5G Unlimited 10Mbps
Ksh3,500
Enterprise Broadband Package
5G Unlimited 30Mbps
Ksh5,500
Enterprise Broadband Package
5G Unlimited 50Mbps
Ksh7,500
Subscribers of the Airtel 5G Ultra Home Broadband Packages with daily allocation and use limit cannot keep unused data for another day. Likewise, they cannot pre-use their allocation after using up the data. They have to wait until 12 AM of that day for it to renew.
Rwanda Emergency medical Hotlines.
When it comes to human health, you must always be swift during a medical emergency, so the situation does not get...
