It is not always the case that we want to answer incoming calls when our phones ring, for reasons best known to us. In such situations, ignoring a call or hanging up on the caller might not be ideal, but forwarding it may be more convenient. That’s simply getting any incoming call to your number automatically redirected to ring on another number.
So, if you ever want to forward calls but don’t know how to do it, don’t worry. In this comprehensive guide, I will explain how to divert calls, whether you are using Android or iPhone, either through the phone settings or using special USSD numeric codes that work for all network operators in Kenya, including Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom.
The best part: You can choose whether to activate forwarding always, only when your number is busy or unavailable, or only when you cannot answer the phone. Here is all that you need to know.
What Is Call Forwarding
Call forwarding is a telecommunications feature that automatically redirects your incoming calls to another telephone number when certain conditions are met. When someone calls your primary number, instead of ringing on your phone, the call gets rerouted to your designated forwarding number. This ensures you never miss important calls, even when you’re unavailable on your main device.
How much does call forwarding cost in Kenya?
In a real sense, call forwarding occurs when you receive a call and decide to transfer it to another number. When that happens, the caller pays for the traffic only until it arrives at your phone number, and then the traffic is directed to another number.
For most Kenyan mobile networks, call forwarding does not have a special “forwarding fee” on top of normal tariffs. Instead, the line that finally receives the call is usually charged at its standard voice call rate, and in some cases, the person receiving the forwarded call may bear the cost rather than the original caller.
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- On Safaricom, forwarded calls generally follow the normal voice call rates for your tariff or bundle, and any special offers or daily fees depend on the specific plan you are subscribed to. For the most accurate information, you should always confirm the current call rates and any forwarding-related charges from Safaricom’s official channels before relying on a specific amount.
- On Airtel Kenya, forwarding and “collect”-style arrangements also ride on the network’s prevailing voice rates, and in some cases, the person receiving the forwarded call is the one charged. Because Airtel periodically updates its tariffs and promotions, you should check Airtel’s latest published rates or contact customer care to confirm the exact charges that will apply to your line.
- On Telkom Kenya, call forwarding similarly uses the network’s standard voice rates for the number that actually receives the call, without a clearly separate published “forwarding” fee. Since Telkom may revise its call tariffs over time, it is best to verify the latest voice call rates and any forwarding-related conditions from Telkom’s official resources.
If you are setting up call forwarding for regular or business use, always double-check the latest tariffs from your network’s official website, app, or customer care before relying on any fixed shilling amounts in older articles or screenshots.
How to Activate Call Forwarding from Phone Settings
No matter the operating system your phone runs, it is very easy to turn on call forwarding to another number. But before we get into the specific details, here are the most current methods for both major smartphone platforms:
On iPhone
If you want to turn on call forwarding on your iPhone, you can easily do so through the phone settings menu:
- Navigate to Settings on your home screen
- Scroll down and tap on Phone, located between Messages and Voice Memos
- Under the “Calls” section, select Call Forwarding
- Toggle the button until it turns green to activate the feature
- Tap “Forward To” and use your phone keypad to enter the destination number
- Always include the country code (e.g., +254712345678 for Kenyan numbers)
You will know that call forwarding is activated successfully by checking the top of your phone’s status bar for an icon shaped like a telephone receiver with an arrow pointing right. To disable call forwarding, simply toggle off the green call forwarding button or change the number you had set earlier.
On Android
Enabling call forwarding to another number is straightforward on Android devices, though the wording may vary by manufacturer. Here’s the universal method that works across all Android versions in 2026:
- Open the Phone app from your home screen or app drawer
- Tap the three-dot menu icon (⋮) in the top right corner
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu
- Look for “Calling accounts” or “Advanced settings.”
- Tap on “Call forwarding” or “Call diversion.”
- If you have dual SIM cards, select the appropriate SIM first. After a few moments of loading, you’ll see these forwarding options:
- Always Forward: Diverts all incoming calls to your chosen number immediately
- When Busy: Forwards calls only when you’re already on another call
- When Unanswered: Diverts calls when you don’t pick up after several rings
- When Unreachable: Forwards calls when your phone is off or out of network coverage
- For each option, tap to activate, enter the destination number with the Kenya country code (+254), and tap “Turn On” or “Enable” to confirm.
Divert calls to another number using USSD Codes
The above methods are not the only ways to divert calls to another number: you can also use codes on the phone keypad. The functionality is exactly the same, but in this case, you may have more control over the options (especially from your Android).
To proceed, launch the phone app on your smartphone (Android or iPhone) and enter one of the following codes. Next, tap the green start call button, as you normally would when calling someone. These are standard GSM codes used by Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom in Kenya.
How to divert all calls
If you want to divert all calls you receive to another number, enter the following code: *21+254[phone number]#, where [phone number] is the number of the phone to which you want to transfer the call. To deactivate the function, simply dial ##21#. To check if there have been any calls, dial *#21#.
How to divert calls if your phone is busy
Do you want to forward calls only when your phone number is busy, that is, when you are on a call? In this case, the code to dial is *67+254[phone number]#.
To deactivate the service, dial this code: ##67#, while to check for incoming calls, dial *#67#.
How to divert calls if your phone is off or unreachable
Do you want to activate call forwarding when your phone is off or unreachable? In this case, you need to dial the code *62+254[phone number]#.
To deactivate the service, dial the code ##62#. To check for incoming calls, dial the code *#62#.
How to divert calls if you don’t answer
Finally, there is also a code available in case no one answers. In this case, dial the code *61+254[phone number]#. As you can imagine, the code to deactivate the service is ##61#, while to check for incoming calls, it is *#61#
Well, I hope this article has given you a clear overview of how to easily enable call forwarding on your phone, regardless of whether you are using an Android, an iPhone, or any network carrier in Kenya. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comment section below.
Well, I hope that this comprehensive article has given you a clear overview of how you can easily enable call forwarding on your phone regardless of whether you are using Android, iPhone, or whatever network carrier you’re subscribed to in Kenya. The methods outlined here reflect current ways of setting up call forwarding in 2026. If you have any questions or need clarification on any of the procedures, please let us know in the comment section below.
