Kenya — Currency & Money

The Kenyan shilling (KES) floats — check the rate on arrival. The single most useful money move is getting a Safaricom SIM with M-Pesa activated (passport required): mobile money dominates daily commerce and many bars, taxis and small venues prefer it to cards or even cash. Cards (Visa best) work in malls, hotels and chain restaurants; withdraw cash from ATMs inside bank branches or malls in daylight, not street machines at night.

Tipping around 10% is appreciated in restaurants; small notes for service staff go far. Agree taxi prices before departure if you ever ride outside the apps.