Earlier today, while visiting a fairly rural part of Murang’a County, aka ‘Shags’ or ‘Gichagi’ (which mean ‘rural’ or ‘village’ in Kikuyu and Sheng), I decided to do something I often do without much thought — run a simple internet speed test. Just to check. I happened to have both Airtel and Safaricom mobile lines with me, so I tested them back-to-back from the exact same location. The results? Let’s just say they tell a much bigger story about mobile internet in Kenya than just the numbers.

Airtel in Murang’a: Decent in Cities, But Struggles Deep in Shags

First up was Airtel. The speed test came back with:

Download speed: 3.82 Mbps

Upload speed: 1.20 Mbps

Server: Nairobi

Status: Your internet connection is slow

On paper, this may seem usable — and in a city context like Nairobi, Airtel generally performs well and is highly cost-effective. But here’s a quick breakdown of what these numbers mean in practice:

Basic Usage: Okay for emails, light browsing, and low-res video streaming (think 480p).

Video Calls & Streaming: Expect buffering during HD content and lag on calls.

Uploads: 1.20 Mbps makes uploading large files — say podcast episodes or video content — painfully slow.

Shared Use: Multiple connected devices will severely strain performance.

Signal Stability: I experienced several frustrating moments where Airtel dropped to EDGE. In some spots, there were complete dead zones meaning there was no signal at all.

This aligns with what many rural users in Kenya still experience — inconsistent service even where 4G is technically available. Coverage may exist on the map, but backhaul congestion, tower spacing, or hilly terrain can all throttle performance.

Safaricom in the Same Location: A Noticeable Step Up

Immediately after, I ran the same test using my Safaricom line. The difference was stark:

Download speed: 40.8 Mbps

Upload speed: 4.49 Mbps

Latency: 1 ms

Server: Nairobi

Status: Your internet connection is fast

No buffering. No network drops. No fuss. Everything just worked. Whether it was uploading files, hopping on a quick call, or browsing — the difference was night and day compared to Airtel in the same location.

Side-by-Side Comparison — Airtel vs. Safaricom (Rural Murang’a)

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters

This isn’t about saying one telco is inherently better than the other. Airtel has done an excellent job in cities like Nairobi where affordability meets reliable performance. Their data bundles are generous, and for many users, that value is unmatched.

But when you step into more remote areas — what we colloquially call “shags” or “gichagi” — that narrative shifts. It becomes less about who’s cheaper and more about who shows up and performs when it matters.

That’s where Safaricom often has the upper hand — not necessarily because they’re faster in every scenario, but because they’re simply present and dependable, even in places where other networks fall flat. Whether it’s making a call, transacting on M-PESA, or uploading a client deliverable, the peace of mind that comes with stable connectivity can’t be overstated.

The Visible Footprint of Market Leadership

What also caught my eye was the physical infrastructure — countless Safaricom and M-PESA-branded shops and kiosks dotted across the rural landscapes of Murang’a. This kind of brand presence reflects a deeper truth: Safaricom isn’t just a telco — it’s ingrained into the economic and social fabric of Kenya, especially in the most remote areas.

And it’s not by chance. Safaricom’s consistent reinvestment of its outsized revenues into network expansion, infrastructure upgrades, and product innovation over the years is what enables these real-world differences.

Mobile Internet Connectivity in Kenya is Contextual

What works in Nairobi may not cut it in shags. And while Airtel still represents great value in many parts of Kenya, today was a reminder that reach and reliability still reign supreme in determining network quality across diverse geographies.

In the end, my experience emphasizes a simple truth: when you’re out in the middle of nowhere, and you still get full bars, blazing speeds, and zero drops, that’s not just convenience — it’s infrastructure excellence.