Bulk SMS to Kenya
Send bulk SMS online to Kenya from your browser or the API for $0.02294 per message, with a delivery report for every number, scheduling up to 60 days ahead and automatic refunds for texts that cannot be delivered.
Bulk SMS in Kenya
Who sends bulk SMS to Kenya?
Kenya, with its capital Nairobi, is East Africa's economic hub, known for its tech innovation and agricultural exports. Businesses like banks, mobile money agents, agricultural cooperatives, and retailers send bulk SMS to their customers. Messages often notify about mobile money transactions, delivery updates, payment reminders, and promotional offers. Text messages are ideal for Kenya's mobile-first audience, reaching any phone instantly without needing internet or apps.
Banks
Banks in Nairobi send SMS alerts for account transactions and loan repayment reminders to customers across Kenya.
Mobile money agents
Agents in Mombasa notify customers about completed mobile money transfers and available cash-out services.
Agricultural cooperatives
Cooperatives in Nakuru send farmers updates on crop prices and fertilizer delivery schedules.
Retailers
Supermarkets in Kisumu inform customers about weekend discounts and new product arrivals via SMS.
Sending to Kenya: numbers, alphabet and timing
Number format
How do Kenya mobile numbers look?
A typical mobile number in Kenya has 9 digits after the calling code +254. At home people write it with a leading 0, as in 0712 123456, and that 0 is dropped in the international form: +254 712 123456. Spaces, dots, dashes and brackets in your list are removed automatically.
Alphabet
Which alphabet do messages to Kenya use?
English and Swahili is written with letters that all belong to the GSM-7 alphabet, so a plain message to Kenya carries 160 characters in one SMS and 153 in each part of a longer text. An emoji, or curly quotes pasted from a word processor, turn the whole message into Unicode with 70 characters per SMS, and the composer shows which character caused it.
Time zone
What time do messages arrive in Kenya?
Kenya keeps UTC+3 all year, with no clock change, so 10:00 in Nairobi is always 07:00 UTC. Late morning and early evening on working days are the usual hours for marketing texts there, while codes and alerts go out the moment they are needed. The scheduler works in your browser's time zone and shows the conversion.
Costs
What does a bulk SMS campaign to Kenya cost?
Every segment to Kenya costs $0.02294. A longer message is charged per segment, and the composer shows the segment count as you write.
| Messages | 1 segment | 2 segments |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | $2.29 | $4.59 |
| 1,000 | $22.94 | $45.88 |
| 5,000 | $114.70 | $229.40 |
| 10,000 | $229.40 | $458.80 |
| 50,000 | $1,147.00 | $2,294.00 |
Bulk SMS to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
Questions
Bulk SMS to Kenya: questions and answers
How much does bulk SMS to Kenya cost?
Each SMS segment to Kenya costs $0.02294. 1,000 single-segment messages cost $22.94, 10,000 cost $229.40, and a $40 top-up covers about 1,743 messages. Messages that cannot be delivered are refunded to your balance.
How do I format Kenya phone numbers for a bulk SMS list?
A typical mobile number in Kenya has 9 digits after the calling code +254. At home people write it with a leading 0, as in 0712 123456, and that 0 is dropped in the international form: +254 712 123456. Spaces, dots, dashes and brackets in your list are removed automatically.
How many characters fit in one SMS to Kenya?
English and Swahili is written with letters that all belong to the GSM-7 alphabet, so a plain message to Kenya carries 160 characters in one SMS and 153 in each part of a longer text. An emoji, or curly quotes pasted from a word processor, turn the whole message into Unicode with 70 characters per SMS, and the composer shows which character caused it.
When should I schedule bulk SMS to Kenya?
Kenya keeps UTC+3 all year, with no clock change, so 10:00 in Nairobi is always 07:00 UTC. Late morning and early evening on working days are the usual hours for marketing texts there, while codes and alerts go out the moment they are needed. The scheduler works in your browser's time zone and shows the conversion.
What languages should I use for SMS in Kenya?
English and Swahili are widely understood. Use English for formal messages and Swahili for a more local touch.
Are there peak times to send SMS in Kenya?
Weekdays during business hours are ideal. Avoid late evenings and early mornings to respect recipients' time.
Can one campaign include Kenya and other countries?
Yes. A campaign can mix numbers from any of the 227 destinations. The console reads each calling code, prices every number at its own country's rate and shows the cost per country before you send.
Start sending to Kenya
Kenya is one of 227 destinations on one balance. Top up from $40 and send your first campaign today.
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