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Kenya +254

International code · Africa

How to dial

Calling from abroad +254 712 345 678

Dial +254, then the local number. Drop the leading trunk prefix 0. Generate the full number →

Calling a mobile locally 0712 345 678

For domestic long distance dial 0 first, then the area code. Local calls: dial directly. Mobiles are dialled with the leading 0 as well.

Mobile length
9 digits
Mobile prefixes
7XX XXX XXX
International format
+254 7XX XXX XXX
Domestic trunk
0

Sign-up availability

What to expect when signing up for these services with a physical SIM from this country:

ChatGPT Works
Claude Works
WhatsApp Works
Telegram Works
LINE Works
WeChat Works
X Works
TikTok Works
Gemini Works

Applies to every platform: VoIP / virtual numbers and heavily-reused number pools get rejected. Physical SIM only.

Checked 2026-09-12. Platform region policies and number-range allocations change — always confirm against each platform’s official supported-regions list and the carrier’s notices.
2 sources
www.anthropic.com/supported-countriessupport.google.com/gemini?p=gemini_web_availability

How to read a number

+254712345678

+254Country code
Kenya.
712Prefix
The national part of a Kenyan mobile number is 9 digits starting with 7 or 1; the first three digits are the prefix. 712 falls in Safaricom’s 070-072 block — but Kenya allows porting, so this only shows who originally issued the number. Written nationally as 0712…; that leading 0 is the trunk prefix and is dropped when dialling from abroad.
345678Remaining 6 digits
The subscriber number.

Written nationally as 0712 345 678.

This section checked 2026-09-18.
1 sources
www.ca.go.ke/sites/default/files/2025-10/Telecommunication%20Numbering%20Plan%20for%20Kenya%20October%202025[1].pdf

Number ranges & quality

RangeTypeNotes
07xx / 01xx (e.g. 07xx-xxx-xxx, 9 digits locally) Mobile carrier Kenyan mobile numbers start with 07 or 01 (Safaricom / Airtel / Telkom).
Intl SMSStable
Virtual-number riskLow
ID requiredRegistration is mandatory (Legal Notice No. 90 of 2025): foreigners use a valid passport or Foreign National Registration Certificate; biometrics are not mandated (CA clarification).

Physical SIMs can sign up without issues.

Carriers & prefixes

Mobile prefixes by carrier.

Number portability applies — a prefix only shows the original carrier.

Porting rules in full

Porting is available. Under the regulator CA’s porting guidelines, a port must be executed within 240 minutes (4 hours); the losing operator is not allowed to try to win you back ("no winback"); any active prepaid or post-paid number can be ported; and porting is kept separate from debts and contract disputes, so it cannot be used as a debt-collection lever. The prefixes below come from CA’s Telecommunication Numbering Plan for Kenya (October 2025) and only show who the numbers were originally assigned to. Besides these three operators, the plan assigns a few ranges to other licensees — for example 0763-0766 to Finserve Africa, 0747 to Jamii Telecoms and 0744 to Homelands Media.

User share comes from the Communications Authority of Kenya, as of 2026-03. It shows how widely each operator is used — not how good its signal or service is. Official data →

  • Safaricom Mobile carrierVeteran
    launched 2000 — a department inside Telkom Kenya from 1997
    User share

    011, 0140, 070~072, 0740~0743, 0745~0746, 0748, 0757~0759, 0768~0769, 079

    Kenya’s largest operator. Its numbers all used to start with 07; it later began issuing numbers starting with 01 (from 0110, announced in Safaricom press releases), so Kenyan numbers beginning 011x are nothing unusual.

  • Airtel Kenya Mobile carrierVeteran
    launched 2000 — as Kencell, Kenya’s first mobile company
    User share

    0100~0108, 073, 0750~0756, 0762, 078

    Listed in the numbering plan as Airtel Networks Kenya Ltd.

  • Telkom Kenya Mobile carrier
    User share

    077

    Kenya’s former state telecom, running both fixed and mobile services; its mobile numbers are the whole 077 range.

This section checked 2026-09-18.
5 sources
www.ca.go.ke/sites/default/files/2025-10/Telecommunication%20Numbering%20Plan%20for%20Kenya%20October%202025[1].pdfwww.ca.go.ke/sites/default/files/2023-06/Guidelines-for-the-Provision-of-Mobile-Number-Portability-Services-in-Kenya-2018.pdfwww.safaricom.co.ke/media-center-landing/press-releases/safaricom-targets-2-million-new-customers-with-0110-0111-prefix-numberswww.safaricom.co.ke/media-center-landing/press-releases/safaricom-rolls-out-0112-0113-0114-and-0115-phone-numbersnewsroom.safaricom.co.ke/the-digital-class-of-2000

SIM cards & keeping a number

Kenya’s new subscriber registration regulations (Legal Notice No. 90) took effect on 30 May 2025: foreigners register with a valid passport or Foreign National Registration Certificate. The regulations define “biometric data”, but the Communications Authority publicly clarified that fingerprints and similar biometrics are not mandated. After an operator sends a notice of intent to suspend, a SIM is permanently deactivated if nothing is done within 90 days. In practice stores also check a visa and take a live photo — that part comes from third-party guides and operator practice.

Read more

Notably, Safaricom sells Daima, a keep-number subscription aimed at people living abroad or away for long periods: pay once and the number stays active with no regular top-ups. Without Daima, Safaricom’s prepaid terms say an account “expires” after 120 days of inactivity following the end of the last recharge’s validity, after which Safaricom may deactivate the number and resell it.

Safaricom Daima

Number-keeping SIM
Network
Safaricom’s own network (Kenya’s largest operator)
Price
Per Safaricom’s press release: KSh 200 for 6 months, KSh 500 for 1 year, KSh 1,000 for 2 years, each including 20 minutes and 20 SMS per month across networks
Keeping the number
The number stays active for the subscription period with no further top-ups; subscribe via *100*4# or the MySafaricom app. Without Daima, the official prepaid terms apply: an account expires after 120 days of inactivity following the end of the last recharge’s validity, after which Safaricom may deactivate and recycle the number. The terms count chargeable calls, SMS, data and M-PESA as use
ID check
Under the 2025 regulations, foreigners use a valid passport or Foreign National Registration Certificate; stores usually also check a visa and take a live photo (third-party guides)
SMS & calls
A normal Kenyan number; cost of receiving SMS while roaming in China not verified

Pros

  • An official keep-number product at KSh 500 a year, designed for people abroad
  • Includes 20 minutes and 20 SMS a month

Watch out

  • First registration still has to be done in person in Kenya
  • Without Daima, 120 days of inactivity can cost you the number
  • Cost of receiving SMS in China not verified

Where to buy: safaricom.co.ke

5 sources
www.safaricom.co.ke/media-center-landing/press-releases/safaricom-launches-daima-service-to-enable-customers-keep-numbers-active-up-to-2-yearswww.safaricom.co.ke/media-center-landing/terms-and-conditions/safaricom-prepay-serviceswww.ca.go.ke/sites/default/files/2025-09/The%20Kenya%20Information%20and%20Communications%20(Registration%20of%20Telecommunications%20Services%20Subscriber)%20Regulations%202025.pdfrepository.ca.go.ke/bitstream/handle/123456789/815/SIM-Registration-FAQs_A5-With-Photo-28-APR-22.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=ywww.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2025/11/sim-registration-regulations-kenya-2025-explainer

From user and blogger reports; platform risk rules change often — treat as a guide only. This section checked 2026-09-16.

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