Trying to figure out if buses and metros in Kenya take cards or if Ill need small cash. Any recent experiences?
The reliance on cash is honestly outdated. When I landed at Jomo Kenyatta Airport, I only had my credit card, and I had to hunt down an ATM before I could even take a bus. Even when I got cash, drivers constantly complained about giving change. Considering how advanced M-Pesa is for everything else in Kenya, it’s bizarre that buses and matatus haven’t caught up. For tourists, it feels unnecessarily stressful. If you don’t like carrying cash, public transport in Nairobi will test your patience.
I actually loved the matatu culture in Nairobi. The buses with flashy artwork and music from Kencom to Westlands were an experience by themselves. Fares were cheap, just 30-50 KES most of the time, and the cash system kept things fast. I didn’t feel unsafe carrying small notes, and it was a fun way to meet locals. No cards, no machines, just hand over the money and ride. It felt authentic compared to the more sterile systems I’ve seen elsewhere.
I was staying in Kilimani and took matatus daily from Yaya Centre to CBD. Every single ride was cash-only, and the conductors kept shouting “karakara” for small change. One time I tried paying with a 1,000 KES note, and the guy refused flat out. I ended up buying bottled water at a kiosk just to break the note. It’s chaotic but part of the Nairobi vibe. Don’t bother trying to use your card - even the big yellow City Shuttle buses only want cash.
Kenya doesn’t have a metro system. In Nairobi, most people rely on matatus (minibuses), city buses, and the new Nairobi Expressway shuttles. All of these are cash-based. You hand the conductor small Kenyan shilling notes, and they rarely have change for big bills. Some modern bus companies have talked about mobile money options like M-Pesa, but on the ground, it’s almost always cash. So if you’re taking public transport in Kenya, stock up on coins and smaller notes.