Plan to tip around 10-15% in Kenyan restaurants. However, the exact tip amount when eating out in Kenya depends on the place, occasion, and order size. It's customary to give your waiter or waitress a slightly higher tip than you would a bartender, as they are likely sharing their tip with the kitchen staff.

Tipping in Kenya in 2026 is a significant part of the service economy, especially in the safari and tourism sectors. For a Safari Guide, the standard tip is $10 to $15 per person, per day, usually presented at the end of the trip. In luxury hotels and lodges, you can tip individual porters $1 to $2 per bag, and for general staff, many lodges have a "Staff Tip Box" in the lobby where $5 to $10 per day is an appropriate collective contribution. In Nairobi restaurants, a tip of 10% of the bill is customary if a service charge hasn't already been added. For taxi or Uber drivers, rounding up the fare or adding $1 to $2 is appreciated. While U.S. Dollars are widely accepted for tips, using Kenyan Shillings is much more helpful for local staff as it saves them the high fees associated with currency exchange. Always tip in cash, as "tip lines" on credit card slips are rare and often don't reach the intended staff member.