Switching from Safaricom to Airtel? Here Are 4 Reasons to Do It (and 4 Reasons You Might Regret It)

Switching mobile networks in Kenya isn’t just about signal bars or which SIM sits in SIM slot 1. It’s about loyalty, money, survival, and sometimes even pride. And for me? It was about curiosity.

Last year, I finally gave Airtel a chance. Not because I had beef with Safaricom (okay, maybe a little), but because Airtel came through with their free 5G router, and I couldn’t resist. But now, with a fresh Safaricom booster smiling from my front yard, I’m once again re-evaluating my tech allegiances.

If you’re also stuck in that eternal Kenyan telecom dilemma—“To switch, or not to switch?”—let me help you weigh your options.

4 Reasons to Switch from Safaricom to Airtel

1. Airtel is Cheaper. Period.

Let’s not dance around it. Airtel’s pricing is just friendlier. Whether it’s voice minutes or data bundles, you’re almost guaranteed to spend less than you would on Safaricom. A 45GB + 400-minute (to all networks) combo at just KES 1,000 a month? That’s almost romantic, and it just got better.

And for those of us who track bundles like stock markets, switching to Airtel feels like finally choosing value over vibes.

2. Big Bundles, No Drama

Airtel doesn’t hold back. From daily 2GB packs at just KES 99 and UnlimiNET combos to special FOOTAH and Amazing Quarterly offers, their bundles are often hefty without being heavy on the wallet. I’ve personally milked those daily bundles like it was my birthright. And I know I’m not alone.

Even better, their Smarta bundles come through with beastly weekly and monthly options like 14GB a week or 90GB monthly at prices that won’t make you flinch especially coming from the big green. It’s the kind of bundle freedom Safaricom users can only dream of.

3. Airtel Money Refunds Transaction Fees

I’ll say it louder: Airtel refunds 100% of your transaction fees as airtime. For a country that moves billions through mobile money, that’s a game-changer. I’ve sent cash and paid bills via Airtel Money only to receive my fees back in airtime. No fuss, no conditions. Can Safaricom relate? Didn’t think so.

4. Privacy and surveillance

Let’s not ignore one more detail: privacy. Many Kenyans, especially the more tech-conscious crowd, are starting to feel like Safaricom’s turning into that ex who checks your last seen and starts tracking your every move. Allegations around surveillance and data privacy have made some users jump ship not for speed or cost, but for peace of mind.

Sometimes you just want a network that feels like a quiet roommate, not a nosy landlord.

4 Reasons You Might Regret the Move

1. The Network Can Be a Hot Mess

Airtel’s network is not for the faint-hearted. Sometimes it works like magic. Other times, you’re screaming at your phone like it owes you rent. It’s good in most urban areas but in rural Kenya? Network ghosts. Even Nairobi CBD has moments of Airtel amnesia.

Try buying an hourly bundle during peak time. You’ll likely finish your hour refreshing Instagram while the pages refuse to load. The struggle is real.

2. It Has 5G, But Still Spotty

Despite Airtel’s continued 5G rollout nationwide, my personal experience tells a different story. While my rural home now gets Safaricom 5G thanks to that booster I mentioned, Airtel 5G is still missing in action there. Meanwhile, on a recent road trip from Nairobi cruising along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway, Airtel 5G was consistently available, while Safaricom kept dipping into 4G territory.

There's a lot of Airtel 5G coverage on your way from Nairobi to Nakuru compared to Safaricom 5G. My phone has barely lost 5G signal on Airtel while Safaricom has been on 4G all throughout.

— Himp Man (@keverenge98) July 23, 2025

Airtel may not win the coverage map contest on paper, but in practice, it often surprises you with stronger real-world performance, at least on mobile. Still, Safaricom is the network coverage king in Kenya, be it 4G or 5G.

3. Airtel Money Agent Availability

Airtel Money agent availability is perhaps the biggest pain points. M-PESA agents are plastered across the country, even in the most remote villages. In my rural area, I have access to at least three M-PESA shops within a 50m radius. For Airtel Money? I have to travel 4km to find one. That might not be a dealbreaker in Nairobi or Kisumu, but in rural areas, it makes Airtel Money nearly unusable unless you’re okay waiting days to make a transaction.

4. Reliability Issues

From weird billing experiences to vanishing bundles due to poor network and outages without explanation, Airtel sometimes acts like that friend who says “I’m five minutes away” when they haven’t even showered. Reliability is key, and Airtel has some growing up to do.

Why You Might Want to Stick with Safaricom

Just because I flirted with Airtel doesn’t mean I’ve completely broken up with Safaricom. In fact, the fact that they just installed a booster literally outside my gate feels like they’re trying to win me back. And I won’t lie, it’s working. Here’s why:

• Coverage? Untouchable: There’s a reason every rural chama and remote business trusts Safaricom. 99% coverage means 99% peace of mind.
• M-PESA dominance: There’s no contest here. Airtel Money is improving, but Safaricom is still the bank, the wallet, and the till in one.
• Innovation: From Home Fibre to smart farming IoT solutions, Safaricom is thinking ahead. Their product lineup keeps evolving.
• Trust factor: With over 50 million subscribers, most of us simply default to Safaricom. It’s like that old pair of jeans. Yes, it might be expensive, but it fits.

But Don’t Forget Safaricom’s Flaws

Let’s not pretend Safaricom is perfect:

• The data bundles are ruthless. Blink and they’re gone.
• M-PESA fees can feel like rent, especially when transacting multiple times a day.
• Privacy concerns? Scary. From alleged government collusion to shady surveillance, many users are starting to worry about where their data ends up.
• They’ve had glitches, technical issues, and complaints of slowed-down internet in specific regions.
• And yes, some of us are tired of the monopoly vibes. Competition keeps everyone sharp, and Safaricom sometimes feels… too comfortable.

So, Should You Switch?

It depends.

• Want value and don’t mind occasional chaos? Try Airtel.
• Want stability and M-PESA reliability, even if it costs more? Stick with Safaricom.
• Or better yet, do what I do and use both. Dual-SIM life is the real Kenyan hustle. One for M-PESA and peace of mind. The other for watching YouTube videos and streaming without burning all your bundles.

Have you switched recently? Regretted it? Loving it? Let’s hear your side of the story in the comments below.