Safaricom Just Made Its Most Popular Bundle a Lot More Generous
Safaricom has revised its monthly data bundle line-up, and the change worth paying attention to is the KES 1,000 package, which now delivers 21.5GB, more than double the 10GB it offered before. The KES 99 daily bundle was also bumped, now giving 1.5GB valid for 24 hours, up from 1GB. Safaricom paired the update with an expansion of its Pochi Kadogo service into Western Kenya and new bundled device-plus-data packages, including the Neon Ultra 2 smartphone available from KES 55 per day with insurance included.
On paper, that's a strong move from the operator that already controls the largest share of Kenya's mobile market. But is it actually the best value once you put it next to Airtel and Telkom's current offers?
Head-to-Head: KES 1,000 Monthly Bundles
- Safaricom: 21.5GB for KES 1,000 (≈ KES 46.5/GB)
- Airtel: 25GB for KES 1,000 following its July 2026 Amazing Data Bundle revamp, up from 18GB previously (≈ KES 40/GB)
- Telkom: promotional entry bundles like Mambo 99 work out to roughly KES 14/GB at the low end, though Telkom's monthly big-bundle pricing is less consistently published and coverage is patchier outside major towns
On pure cost-per-gigabyte at the KES 1,000 tier, Airtel currently edges out Safaricom. But price per GB isn't the whole story, Safaricom's 4G and 5G footprint is significantly wider, and its network is consistently rated faster for large downloads and video streaming, which matters if you're actually going to use that data rather than just banking it.
Where Each Network Actually Wins
- Best raw value: Airtel, if you're mostly on WiFi at home/work and only need mobile data for messaging, social media, and light browsing
- Best reliability and speed: Safaricom, especially in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and other urban centres with 5G coverage
- Best for ultra-tight budgets: Telkom's small daily/entry bundles, if you're in an area with decent Telkom coverage
- Best for small business owners: Safaricom's Pochi Kadogo bundles and Airtel's Jiachilie plans, both designed with mobile traders in mind
The Catch With Airtel's "Better" Pricing
Airtel's July revamp wasn't a straightforward win for every user. While monthly bundles got noticeably bigger for the same price, several of Airtel's daily and weekly bundles were quietly cut, in some cases by as much as half. If you're a daily-bundle buyer rather than a monthly subscriber, check the current allocation before assuming Airtel is automatically cheaper; the headline "more data" story applies mainly to monthly plans.
Our Recommendation
If you burn through data fast and live somewhere with strong Safaricom coverage, the new 21.5GB KES 1,000 bundle is genuinely one of the better monthly deals Safaricom has offered in years, and you get the network reliability to match. If you're squeezing every shilling and mostly need data for WhatsApp, browsing, and social apps, Airtel's revamped monthly bundles now offer more raw gigabytes for the same spend. Multi-SIM users, which is common in Kenya, can reasonably keep a Safaricom line for reliability and an Airtel line purely for bulk data.
FAQ
How much data does Safaricom's KES 1,000 bundle give now?
21.5GB, valid for 30 days, up from 10GB previously.
Is Airtel cheaper than Safaricom for data in Kenya?
At the KES 1,000 monthly tier, Airtel currently offers more gigabytes per shilling, but Safaricom generally has wider and faster 4G/5G coverage.
Did Telkom also increase its data bundles in 2026?
Telkom's pricing has stayed relatively promotional-offer driven, with strong value on select entry bundles like Mambo 99, though its network coverage is more limited outside major urban centres.
Sources / Further Reading
- Brand Spur, Safaricom Unveils Enhanced Data Bundles, Pochi Kadogo Expansion
- Kenyans.co.ke, Airtel Kenya Increases Data Offers
- tech-ish, Airtel revamps Amazing Data Bundles
- PesaMarket, Compare Data Plans Kenya 2026
