Island in Lamu County, Kenya

Internet in Lamu: speed, SIM cards and coworking

Updated October 2026Sources

23 MbpsMedian download

Is the internet good in Lamu?

Median fixed broadband in Kenya is 23 Mbps and mobile is 45 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-06). Wifi is slow and unreliable in guesthouses and cafés; mobile data from Safaricom works but slows in town.

Getting online in Lamu

	Details
Cafés and coworking	Wifi is slow and unreliable in guesthouses and cafés; mobile data from Safaricom works but slows in town.
Outages	Power cuts and weak signal are common.
Tourist SIM	Safaricom has a shop at Nairobi airport arrivals; bring your passport for registration and ask them to activate M-Pesa. Data bundles are cheap.
eSIM	Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors.
Carriers	Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, Telkom Kenya
Monthly data plan	KSh1,000–2,500 ($7.7–19.3)
Blocked services	No permanent blocks, but Telegram has been cut during national exams and the internet slowed during major protests.

Coworking in Lamu

There's no dedicated coworking scene here; people work from cafés and accommodation.

Internet speeds in Africa

National medians, Speedtest Global Index.

Country	Fixed	Mobile
Egypt	99 Mbps	52 Mbps
Morocco	57 Mbps	70 Mbps
Botswana	52 Mbps	—
South Africa	50 Mbps	70 Mbps
Tanzania	41 Mbps	33 Mbps
Kenya	23 Mbps	45 Mbps
Namibia	18 Mbps	—

Quick answers

Is the internet fast in Lamu?

Which SIM card should I get in Lamu?

Safaricom has a shop at Nairobi airport arrivals; bring your passport for registration and ask them to activate M-Pesa. Data bundles are cheap.

Can I use an eSIM in Kenya?

Yes. Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors, and travel eSIMs work too.

More about Lamu

Going to Lamu solo?

SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Lamu meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.

See plans in Lamu

Sources

Speeds are medians from Ookla's Speedtest Global Index, cited for reference. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.