NAIROBI, July 8 – Starlink has stopped accepting new customers in seven counties across Kenya after demand exceeded the network capacity currently available in those areas.
The suspension affects Nairobi, Kiambu, Mombasa, Machakos, Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Kwale. Customers trying to subscribe are now placed on a waiting list instead of completing their orders.
According to the company, the service has reached capacity in those locations, although customers can pay a deposit to reserve a place on the waiting list. Starlink said it cannot provide a timeline for when new connections will become available but is working to increase network capacity.
The move follows a sharp rise in subscriptions over the past year, driven by lower equipment prices and more affordable internet plans. Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya shows Starlink had 24,999 subscribers at the end of March, up from 8,063 customers nine months earlier.
Although the company still accounts for less than one per cent of Kenya’s fixed internet market, it has recorded one of the fastest growth rates among licensed internet service providers.
The company has also introduced lower-cost broadband packages, including a 50GB monthly plan priced at KES 1,300 ($10), helping it attract more users in rural communities with limited fibre coverage, as well as households and small businesses in urban areas looking for alternatives to traditional broadband providers.
Since launching in Kenya in July 2023, Starlink has steadily reduced the cost of joining its network. Its hardware price has dropped from KES 89,000 ($688.80) to KES 49,900 ($386), while customers can now rent the equipment for KES 1,950 ($15) a month instead of buying it outright.
