Kenyans saved more than 448,000 hours in 2025 by outsourcing meals and household errands to Uber Eats, according to the platform’s latest Cravings Report.
The findings reveal how delivery has become a cornerstone of modern life, reshaping consumption habits and fueling the country’s food economy.
Fried Chicken Tops Kenya’s Cravings
Fried chicken has emerged as the most popular food choice among Kenyans in 2025, inspiring the year’s biggest orders and topping Uber Eats searches.
- The dish generated tens of thousands of queries.
- The busiest outlet served more than 100 meals a day.
- Pizza held its place as the second‑most searched food.
- Burgers and local delicacies followed closely, while grocery deliveries, from tomatoes to cooking oil, surged as households embraced delivery for everyday essentials.
“Our data shows that fried chicken consistently ranks as the top item ordered by Kenyans this year. Convenience, taste, and variety continue to drive demand,” the Uber Eats report stated.
Uber Eats noted that fried chicken’s popularity spans all age groups, cutting across urban and suburban areas. Peak ordering times were weekends and evenings, with Kenyans experimenting with fusion flavours and gourmet twists on traditional favourites.
Big Spenders and Super Users
The Cravings Report highlighted Kenya’s most dedicated customers:
- The top spender placed Uber Eats orders worth KSh 1.8 million in 2025.
- Record-breaking single orders included:
- KSh 109,000 premium drinks basket with high‑end wines
- KSh 102,134 fast‑food haul of nearly 20 burgers and sides
- KSh 80,400 romantic “Lover’s Marathon” order
- Kenya’s top “super user” placed 718 orders in a year, almost two a day.
- Another customer became so familiar with their courier that they were matched 59 times across 12 restaurants.
Naivas and Uber Eats Partner to Boost Kenya’s Online Shopping
Couriers Breaking Records
Courier activity mirrored the surge in demand:
- One rider covered 54,961 km in a year.
- Another completed 6,866 deliveries.
- The fastest delivery clocked in at just 147 seconds.
Order notes added personality to the data:
- One customer insisted on “NO CHEESE” more than 24 times.
- Others used notes to flirt, praise partners, or thank restaurant staff.
- Nairobi recorded the highest number of polite messages, followed by Kisumu and Mombasa.
From Pandemic Habit to Lifestyle
Food delivery surged during COVID‑19, when customers avoided restaurants and malls. Even after normalcy returned, the convenience of delivery stuck.
Uber Eats expanded beyond meals to include groceries, pharmaceuticals, liquor, and household essentials, reshaping Kenya’s consumption habits and creating new revenue streams.
Economic Impact
The platform’s growth has had a major economic impact:
- Restaurants earned KSh 534 million in additional revenue in 2023.
- Drivers and couriers earned KSh 2.2 billion more than their next‑best alternative.
- Flexible work added another KSh 1.6 billion to livelihoods.
“Every order supports a courier, strengthens a local business, and brings more convenience and choice to customers. This is the food economy Kenya is building, and we’re proud to be part of it,” said Kui Mbugua, General Manager, Uber Eats Kenya.
The Food Economy Kenya Is Building
From fried chicken to groceries, Kenyans are shaping a food economy where every order supports local businesses and creates flexible work opportunities. Delivery platforms have moved from pandemic necessity to lifestyle choice, saving time, boosting incomes, and redefining convenience for millions of households.
