Kakamega: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Kakamega is a city of 1.9 million people in Kenya (Kakamega County), 1,563 m (5,128 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Kisumu International Airport (KIS), 41 km (25 mi) from the centre. Our booking partner lists 79 places to stay.
Key facts
Daylight in Kakamega runs from about 12 h 9 min a day in late December to 12 h 11 min in late June (computed for 0.28° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Kakamega is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Kisumu International Airport (KIS), 41 km (25 mi) from the centre, whose 10,823-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Eldoret International Airport (EDL, 56 km).
Flights to Kakamega: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Kakamega · Driving and car hire
Where to stay
Our booking partner lists 79 places to stay in Kakamega. Of the 46 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (32). Guests have left 551 reviews in total.
Hotels in Kakamega: the full picture, and book
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Nairobi, 288 km — flights · trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Kampala, 241 km (Uganda) — flights
- Mwanza, 373 km (Tanzania) — flights
- Nakuru, 161 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Nansana, 247 km (Uganda) — flights
- Ruiru, 293 km — flights · buses · car rental · tours
- Eldoret, 63 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Kira, 236 km (Uganda) — flights
- Bunamwaya, 244 km (Uganda) — flights
- Kisumu, 43 km — buses · car rental · tours
Common questions
Which airport serves Kakamega?
Kisumu International Airport (KIS), 41 km (25 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Kakamega?
About 1.9 million people live in Kakamega (GeoNames).
What time zone is Kakamega in?
Africa/Nairobi, currently UTC+3.
What currency is used in Kakamega?
The Shilling (KES). Traffic drives on the left.
How many hotels are there in Kakamega?
Our booking partner lists 79 places to stay in Kakamega, bookable on this site.
Which cities are near Kakamega?
Nairobi (288 km), Kampala (241 km), Mwanza (373 km), Nakuru (161 km), Nansana (247 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.