Starlink in Kenya

Where things stand

Starlink is legal in Kenya and has been sold there since July 2023 (Business Daily). The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) regulates satellite internet providers. In April 2026 it introduced a new licence category for satellite firms. The reported cost is at least KSh 15 million, plus up to 0.4% of annual gross turnover (Business Daily / Nation).

The bigger practical problem is availability. Since early July 2026, Starlink's website has said the service is "at capacity" in seven counties. New residential customers there can only join a waitlist, and the company has given no date for reopening (Eastleigh Voice). Reports differ on which counties are affected. Eastleigh Voice listed Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado, Murang'a, Nakuru and Uasin Gishu. Tech-ish listed Mombasa, Kirinyaga and Kwale in place of the last three (Tech-ish).

Prices: a 2026 report listed the Residential plan at KSh 6,500 a month and the Mini plan at KSh 4,500 (The Kenya Times). In July 2026 Tech-ish reported the kit at KES 49,900, a KES 1,950 monthly rental option and a 50GB plan at KES 1,300 (Tech-ish). Bills include 16% VAT and 15% excise duty, which add noticeably to the listed price (The Kenya Times).

How we got here

At launch the kit cost KES 89,000 and the monthly plan KES 6,500 (The Condia). In 2024 Starlink discounted the kit and added a 50GB plan for KSh 1,300 (The Kenya Times). Safaricom then asked the regulator to require satellite operators to work through local licensees rather than hold independent licences (Business Daily). Demand grew quickly. Starlink first marked Nairobi and nearby areas as sold out in late 2024 (Citizen Digital). The 2026 pause covers a wider area.

1. 2023
2. 12 Oct Kenyan Starlink set-up costs reported highest among African markets
3. 2024
4. 26 Aug Starlink in Kenya easy installation process, packages, monthly fees
5. 27 Aug Safaricom urges Kenyan regulator to make Starlink partner with local telcos
6. 29 Oct Starlink Ends Roaming Service Across Africa
7. 4 Nov Starlink stops new sign-ups in Nairobi and nearby areas, citing network overload Resolved
8. 21 Nov Elon Musk’s Starlink faces predatory pricing claim in Kenya
9. 2025
10. 7 Jan Kenya proposes much higher licence fees for satellite ISPs including Starlink Pending
11. 9 Jan Kenya set to increase Starlink and other ISPs operating licensing fee by 1000%
12. 24 Jan Starlink becomes Kenya’s 8th largest ISP amid growing regulatory concerns
13. 10 Aug Starlink reportedly loses about 2,000 Kenyan subscribers in Q1 2025
14. 11 Aug Kenyan users quit Starlink over costs, slow speeds
15. 29 Dec Fake 'Starlink bundles' for Safaricom and Airtel lines circulate on TikTok
16. 2026
17. 3 Jan Science & Tech: Starlink says not yet licensed to operate in
18. 11 Mar Kenyan regulator audits Starlink’s D2C service for interference issues
19. 29 Apr Amazon Applies for License To Rival Starlink in Kenya
20. 18 Jun Starlink network performance in Kenya worsens amid congestion
21. 18 Jun Starlink average speeds in Kenya reported to fall 26% amid congestion
22. 8 Jul Starlink pauses new residential sign-ups across seven Kenyan counties Ongoing
23. 23 Oct BREAKING: Swadeshi Jagran Manch Demands Ban on Starlink, Citing National Security Concerns | News18
24. 24 Oct Swadeshi Jagran Manch urges Union Govt to deny Starlink licence

What customers and officials report

Capacity and speed. Citing Ookla data, Business Daily reported that Starlink's average speed in Kenya fell to 34.55 Mbps in March 2026, down 26% from 47 Mbps a year earlier. The paper linked the fall to congestion (Business Daily).

Bills higher than expected. One customer said she had been quoted about KSh 13,000 but received a bill of KSh 18,600, of which KSh 4,657 was VAT and excise duty, according to The Kenya Times. The article's own tax arithmetic is not fully consistent (The Kenya Times).

ID verification. In February 2026 Starlink told Kenyan customers to verify their identity in person at an authorised retailer by 30 April 2026, "as required by local authorities". It warned that service could be interrupted or accounts deactivated if they did not (The Kenya Times).

Scams. Fake "Starlink bundles" for Safaricom and Airtel lines, paid for through M-PESA, have circulated on TikTok (Tech-ish).

• Swadeshi Jagran Manch urges Union Govt to deny Starlink licenceRegulatory & licensing24 Oct 2026
• BREAKING: Swadeshi Jagran Manch Demands Ban on Starlink, Citing National Security Concerns | News18Regulatory & licensing23 Oct 2026
• Starlink pauses new residential sign-ups across seven Kenyan countiesOrders & availability8 Jul 2026
• Starlink average speeds in Kenya reported to fall 26% amid congestionSpeed & performance18 Jun 2026
• Starlink network performance in Kenya worsens amid congestionSpeed & performance18 Jun 2026

See all 20 reports

Courts and regulators

In 2024 the advocacy group Kituo cha Sheria filed a High Court petition against Safaricom, the CA and the Competition Authority. It challenged Safaricom's letter seeking limits on Starlink and asked the court to bar the CA from acting against SpaceX (The Standard). In September 2024 the parties agreed to fast-track the hearing (Business Daily). We have not found a reported judgment.

Jamii Telecommunications has also accused Starlink of predatory pricing and asked the regulator to investigate. The claim appears in a letter tabled in the High Court (Business Daily). We found no reported outcome.

How to complain

1. Start with Starlink. Log in at starlink.com or in the Starlink app, open the Help Centre and create a support ticket. Replies come by email and appear in the account dashboard (DishyTech guide). Keep the ticket number.
2. Put it in writing. If the issue is not resolved, send a written complaint with copies of receipts and correspondence (CA brochure).
3. Escalate to the CA. If repeated requests fail, contact the Communications Authority by email (complaints@ca.go.ke), by phone or at its Nairobi and regional offices. All are listed in the same CA brochure.

What to watch

• When Starlink reopens residential sign-ups in the counties marked "at capacity". The company has given no date (Eastleigh Voice).
• How the CA's new satellite licence, with its reported KSh 15 million fee, is applied to existing operators (Business Daily / Nation).
• Whether speeds recover from the March 2026 low as capacity is added (Business Daily).
• A judgment in the Kituo cha Sheria petition (Business Daily).