The Kenya time difference is +3 hours from London and +8 hours from New York in winter, and +2 hours and +7 hours in summer (UK and US daylight saving seasons; Kenya does not change its clocks). The same gap applies to neighbouring Tanzania: our Kenya or Tanzania comparison helps you choose between the two safaris.
In practice, when it is noon in London it is 15:00 in Nairobi during UK winter time (GMT) and 14:00 during British Summer Time. When it is noon in New York, it is 20:00 in Nairobi during Eastern Standard Time and 19:00 during Eastern Daylight Time.
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Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in Kenya: key facts
- Time zone: UTC+3, IANA identifier
Africa/Nairobi - Difference with London: +3 h in UK winter (GMT), +2 h during British Summer Time
- Difference with New York: +8 h during Eastern Standard Time, +7 h during Eastern Daylight Time
- Daylight saving in Kenya: no, local time stays the same all year
- Next clock changes: UK on Sunday 25 October 2026 (BST to GMT) and Sunday 28 March 2027; US on Sunday 1 November 2026 (EDT to EST) and Sunday 14 March 2027
Time difference between London, New York and Kenya
| Time in London | In Nairobi (UK winter, GMT) | In Nairobi (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 11:00 | 10:00 |
| 12:00 | 15:00 | 14:00 |
| 18:00 | 21:00 | 20:00 |
| 22:00 | 01:00 (next day) | 00:00 (next day) |
| Time in New York | In Nairobi (US winter, EST) | In Nairobi (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 (8 am) | 16:00 | 15:00 |
| 12:00 (noon) | 20:00 | 19:00 |
| 18:00 (6 pm) | 02:00 (next day) | 01:00 (next day) |
| 22:00 (10 pm) | 06:00 (next day) | 05:00 (next day) |
The difference of one hour between winter and summer comes from daylight saving time in the UK and the US; local time in Kenya does not change.
Clock changes 2026–2027
Kenya does not observe daylight saving time: local time stays at UTC+3 all year round. Only clock changes in your home country alter the gap.
Clocks change on the following dates (local time):
- UK, Sunday 25 October 2026: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 1 November 2026: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5) in New York
- US, Sunday 14 March 2027: EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4)
- UK, Sunday 28 March 2027: GMT (UTC+0) to BST (UTC+1)
- UK, Sunday 31 October 2027: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 7 November 2027: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5)
When to call Kenya from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 Nairobi time, call between 06:00 and 17:00 London time in UK winter, and between 07:00 and 18:00 during British Summer Time. From New York, call between 01:00 and 12:00 during EST, and between 02:00 and 13:00 during EDT.
On 15 January 2027, office hours (09:00–17:00) overlap for 5 hours with London and for 0 hours with New York. Always state the time zone in your meeting invitations.
Time difference and jet lag: practical tips
Flying to Kenya from the UK means travelling east: your day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than usual. From North America you also travel east, with a bigger gap. A few simple rules help you adjust to local time:
- Set your watch and phone to local time as soon as you board.
- Align meals and bedtime with local time from the first day.
- Plan a light first day, with no important meetings or long drives.
- Get out in daylight when you arrive and avoid long naps.
- If you take medication at fixed times, ask your doctor how to adapt the schedule to the time difference.
Kenya time zone: IANA identifier and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Standard time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi | Africa/Nairobi | UTC+3 | UTC+3 | EAT |
- Nairobi (
Africa/Nairobi): no clock change recorded since 1 January 1970.
No daylight saving time in Kenya in 2027
The tz database lists no clock change in 2027 for Africa/Nairobi: standard time remains UTC+3 all year. Only the UK clock changes (Sunday 28 March and Sunday 31 October 2027) and the US clock changes (Sunday 14 March and Sunday 7 November 2027) alter the gap.
| 2027 period | Nairobi vs London | Nairobi vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 13 March | +3 h | +8 h |
| 14 – 27 March | +3 h | +7 h |
| 28 March – 30 October | +2 h | +7 h |
| 31 October – 6 November | +3 h | +7 h |
| 7 November – 31 December | +3 h | +8 h |
Sunrise and sunset in Nairobi in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Nairobi (1.28° S, 36.81° E). They help you time your exposure to daylight, the main lever for resetting your body clock on arrival.
| 15th of the month | Sunrise | Solar noon | Sunset | Day length | Sunrise / sunset in London time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:36 | 12:42 | 18:48 | 12 h 11 | 03:36 / 15:48 |
| February | 06:42 | 12:47 | 18:51 | 12 h 09 | 03:42 / 15:51 |
| March | 06:38 | 12:42 | 18:45 | 12 h 07 | 03:38 / 15:45 |
| April | 06:30 | 12:33 | 18:35 | 12 h 05 | 04:30 / 16:35 |
| May | 06:27 | 12:29 | 18:31 | 12 h 04 | 04:27 / 16:31 |
| June | 06:32 | 12:33 | 18:35 | 12 h 03 | 04:32 / 16:35 |
| July | 06:37 | 12:39 | 18:40 | 12 h 03 | 04:37 / 16:40 |
| August | 06:35 | 12:37 | 18:39 | 12 h 04 | 04:35 / 16:39 |
| September | 06:25 | 12:28 | 18:31 | 12 h 06 | 04:25 / 16:31 |
| October | 06:14 | 12:19 | 18:23 | 12 h 08 | 04:14 / 16:23 |
| November | 06:12 | 12:17 | 18:22 | 12 h 10 | 03:12 / 15:22 |
| December | 06:22 | 12:28 | 18:34 | 12 h 12 | 03:22 / 15:34 |
The longest day in the table is 15 December (12 h 12 between 06:22 and 18:34), the shortest 15 June (12 h 03).
Jet lag: how flight direction affects you in Kenya
- Outbound from the UK (flying east): you « lose » 3 hours in UK winter and 2 hours in summer; your arrival day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than your body clock expects.
- Return to the UK (flying west): the opposite applies. Flying west is generally considered easier to cope with: you just need to stay up a little later.
- From New York (flying east): you « lose » 8 hours in winter (EST) and 7 hours in summer (EDT); your arrival day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than your body clock expects.
- Your usual night at home (23:00 – 07:00) corresponds to 02:00 – 10:00 in Nairobi from London in UK winter (01:00 – 09:00 during BST), and to 07:00 – 15:00 in Nairobi from New York during EST (06:00 – 14:00 during EDT): this is when your body will want to sleep for the first few days.
- Daylight on arrival: in Nairobi, the sun rises around 06:36 and sets around 18:48 in mid-January, and around 06:37 and 18:40 in mid-July (table above). After flying east, seek morning light and avoid it late in the day; after flying west, make the most of late-afternoon light to stay awake until the evening. This is the standard advice for shifting your body clock.
Plan your trip to Kenya
- Our complete Kenya travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Best time to visit Kenya: month-by-month weather and the best season
- Time differences around the world: every country in our guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between Kenya and the UK or the US?
Kenya is 3 hours ahead of London in UK winter and 2 hours ahead of London during British Summer Time. It is 8 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Standard Time and 7 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Daylight Time.
What time is it in Kenya when it is noon in London or New York?
Noon in London is 15:00 in Nairobi in UK winter and 14:00 in summer. Noon in New York is 20:00 in Nairobi during EST and 19:00 during EDT.
Does Kenya have daylight saving time?
No, local time stays at UTC+3 all year. Only clock changes in the UK or the US alter the gap.
When should I call Kenya from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, call between 06:00 and 17:00 London time in UK winter (07:00 to 18:00 during BST), or between 01:00 and 12:00 New York time during EST (02:00 to 13:00 during EDT).
What is the IANA time zone for Kenya?
Nairobi: Africa/Nairobi.
What time does the sun rise in Nairobi?
Around 06:36 on 15 January 2027 and around 06:37 on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 18:48 and 18:40. Destination de Voyage calculation (NOAA algorithm).
Our sources
- Sunrise and sunset: algorithm from the NOAA Solar Calculator (Global Monitoring Laboratory), applied to the capital’s coordinates (Natural Earth, Wikidata or Wikipedia): Destination de Voyage calculation.
- IANA Time Zone Database (tz database), version 2026b, consulted on 13 October 2026: time zones, rules and clock-change dates. Future dates may be changed by local authorities.
- UK clock changes: GOV.UK, When do the clocks change? (UK summer time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).
- US daylight saving time: NIST, Daylight Saving Time (from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
- Live time: calculated by your browser (Intl API), which relies on the same IANA database.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
