Exchanging Money at Jomo Kenyatta Airport: Best Cash Tips

Jomo Kenyatta airport currency exchange

So, your holiday to Kenya is booked. Your ETA arrived and now you just need the final details. 

How to get the best rate for cash in Kenya, without being ripped off. 

How to get the Best Exchange rate in Kenya at the JKIA on arrivals. 

When you land in Kenya for the first time, you come off the plane and you head to immigration. By this time you are already tired from the flight, its late at night and you will have a huge queue in front of you to get your ETA signed off. 

Once you are past the ETA the currency exchanges start. You will see visa exchange for shillings and also cash for shillings. 

Now, in the second currency exchange as you come in, you will see some women behind the counter telling you to come to them. My advice is go to the them.

This is what they offered me 

100 EURO - 14,000 Shilling ( I was offered 9,000 at the airport in Germany)

100 Pounds for 17,500 Shilling. 

I chose to exchange my pounds. 

Nairobi airport ATM cash withdrawal

On leaving the airport and going through the last security scanners for plastic bags, I saw some cash machines. I thought I would get out some money on my credit card. However, my card did not work. It said that I had not activated it. 

Why Did the Nairobi Airport ATM Reject Your Card?

The Scare Factor	What is Actually Happening	The Quick Fix
The ATM takes your PIN number but dispenses zero cash.	Your home bank saw a sudden request from Kenya and instantly blocked it as a fraud precaution.	Don't Panic: Log into your banking app right there on the airport Wi-Fi. Look for "Travel Settings" or "Security" and manually toggle Kenya to "ON."
The machine screen says "Card Deactivated" or "Invalid."	European/UK cards rely entirely on the modern front electronic chip. Many older local machines still try to read the data off the dark magnetic strip on the back of your card first.	Try a Different Bank: If one ATM rejects you, walk five steps to a different bank machine. KCB (Kenya Commercial Bank) and I&M ATMs generally accept international chips seamlessly.
The machine spits your card back out with no receipt.	The communication link between the Nairobi airport terminal and your European bank timed out.	Use a Physical Exchange Desk: Always carry a backup of crisp, clean EUR, GBP, or USD cash bills so you can use the airport cash desks if the machines fail.

Now, a few days after getting to Kenya I got a message on my banking app to turn on cash withdrawals in Kenya for the next 7 days. It's something about the banking not being as safe as in Europe. This only came to me after I had physically used my card to pay for something. 

So, I went outside and waited for the pick up to the Crowne Plaza at Nairobi airport. I saw a currency exchange and some more bank machines across the road towards the car park. 

Best place to exchange money Nairobi

Behind the machines there was a single guy in the currency exchange. I asked him how much for 80 Euros and he offered me 14,000 Shilling - what the other person offered me for 100. I said yes and got myself a bargain!

I do think in the terminal, if you have pounds you will get the best deal. With Euro, if you are not afraid to cross over the road, ask the man in the first shop next to the bank machines for the best deal he can give you.

Travel cash tips Kenya

• You need cash in Kenya

• You need cash to tip people

• You need cash to buy goods from markets

• If you are on a private safari and the driver looks after you, give a good cash tip in any currency.