Safaricom review

Plans start at KES 100, and the reference plans sit at several tiers, from a small monthly bundle to a much larger one. The top reference plan is the priciest of the set, so the gap between the cheapest and dearest bundle is wide. All are priced per month on a 1-month cycle.

The plans are sold on a 1-month cycle, so there is no long renewal term to lock into. Each cycle is simply the next month's purchase, and the published per month price is what the plan carries. Buyers who want a fixed commitment for longer should weigh that against a seller offering prepaid and contract instead.

The reference plans run from a light monthly bundle up to a heavy one, with a mid tier for everyday streaming and browsing. Unused data rolls over, so whatever is left at the end of the cycle carries into the next one. The largest bundle carries more data than the smallest by a wide margin, so matching the allowance to real usage matters more than the headline price.

The plans are sold in Kenya, which is where the network coverage sits. No roaming terms are stated, so anyone planning to use a line outside the country should check current roaming add-ons before signing up. For a plan where roaming terms are set out in the open, an eSIM option from a seller such as yesss! may suit better.

An eSIM is available, so a compatible phone can be set up without waiting for a physical card to arrive. That suits a new arrival or a traveller who needs data working quickly. Sim only tariffs are also available, so an eSIM can be taken without a handset bundle.

Sim only tariffs are available, which means the plan can stand on its own without a new phone attached to it. Anyone already holding a handset can use it straight away. The network also runs 5G, so a SIM only plan on a compatible device is not limited to slower connections.

The network is run by Safaricom PLC, the operating company itself rather than a reseller. That is the same party that supplies the coverage and issues the plan, which matters when a bill query or a plan change has to go somewhere. Support runs on email, phone and help centre for day to day help.

Support runs on email, phone and help centre, covering email, phone and a help centre. The phone and email routes suit anything that needs a written answer or a spoken conversation. Since Safaricom is a network seller, the query goes to the operator rather than to a third party.

5G is available on the network for compatible devices. Most of the reference bundles are sold alongside plans running on the same infrastructure, so a 5G device is the deciding factor rather than the plan name. Data rollover applies regardless, so a lighter month on 5G is not lost.