Offset
The time difference between Nairobi and Central Time is 8 hours.
Nairobi (EAT) is ahead of Central Time (CDT).
EAT: UTC+3
CDT: UTC-5
Central Time is currently observing daylight saving time; Nairobi is not.
When to schedule
Standard business hours (9 AM–5 PM, Mon–Fri) in Nairobi and Central Time don't overlap on the same weekday. Central Time is 8 hours behind Nairobi.
With some flexibility, there’s a workable window outside standard hours:
- 3 PM–8 PM in Nairobi (7 AM–12 PM in Central Time) — suggest 5:00 PM Nairobi (9:00 AM Central Time).
This means an early start or late finish for one side, but it’s a reasonable slot for a one-off meeting.
This window may shift by an hour during daylight saving time.
Public holidays in 2026
National public holidays can affect availability — a counterpart is likely off work on their own holidays, so it's worth planning meetings and deadlines around them.
Kenya
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Good FridayFri, Apr 3
- Easter MondayMon, Apr 6
- Labour DayFri, May 1
- Madaraka DayMon, Jun 1
- Mazingira DaySat, Oct 10
- Mashujaa DayTue, Oct 20
- Jamhuri DaySat, Dec 12
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
- Boxing DaySat, Dec 26
United States
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. DayMon, Jan 19
- Presidents DayMon, Feb 16
- Memorial DayMon, May 25
- Juneteenth National Independence DayFri, Jun 19
- Independence DayFri, Jul 3
- Labour DayMon, Sep 7
- Columbus DayMon, Oct 12
- Veterans DayWed, Nov 11
- Thanksgiving DayThu, Nov 26
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
About these zones
Nairobi uses East Africa Time (EAT). To call Kenya, dial +254.
Central Time is also known as CST, or CDT. To call United States, dial +1.
Central Time is approximately 8,000 miles northwest of Nairobi.
Quick reference
Full 24-hour conversion table — tap any time to open it in the converter.
| Nairobi | CST | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | 4:00 pm | -1 day |
| 1:00 am | 5:00 pm | -1 day |
| 2:00 am | 6:00 pm | -1 day |
| 3:00 am | 7:00 pm | -1 day |
| 4:00 am | 8:00 pm | -1 day |
| 5:00 am | 9:00 pm | -1 day |
| 6:00 am | 10:00 pm | -1 day |
| 7:00 am | 11:00 pm | -1 day |
| 8:00 am | 12:00 am | Same day |
| 9:00 am | 1:00 am | Same day |
| 10:00 am | 2:00 am | Same day |
| 11:00 am | 3:00 am | Same day |
| 12:00 pm | 4:00 am | Same day |
| 1:00 pm | 5:00 am | Same day |
| 2:00 pm | 6:00 am | Same day |
| 3:00 pm | 7:00 am | Same day |
| 4:00 pm | 8:00 am | Same day |
| 5:00 pm | 9:00 am | Same day |
| 6:00 pm | 10:00 am | Same day |
| 7:00 pm | 11:00 am | Same day |
| 8:00 pm | 12:00 pm | Same day |
| 9:00 pm | 1:00 pm | Same day |
| 10:00 pm | 2:00 pm | Same day |
| 11:00 pm | 3:00 pm | Same day |
Daylight saving time
Central Time observes daylight saving time; Nairobi does not. The offset between the two zones changes when Central Time transitions: on Sunday, November 1, 2026, clocks fall back from CDT to CST.
See the daylight saving time page for transition dates across every time zone.
Daylight today
- Sunrise
- 6:31 AM
- Sunset
- 6:34 PM
- Day length
- 12h 3m
- Sunrise
- 5:16 AM
- Sunset
- 8:25 PM
- Day length
- 15h 9m
Daylight overlap: 5h 18m — 1:16 PM–6:34 PM in Nairobi (5:16 AM–10:34 AM in Central Time). Both locations are in daylight during this window.
Cities in these zones
Other cities in East Africa Time
Cities in Central Time
Browse all cities to see the current local time anywhere.
Airports in these zones
Airports in East Africa Time
- NBO
- WIL
- KIS
Airports in Central Time
- GYY
- MDW
- ORD
- HOU
- IAH
- SAT
- DAL
- DFW
- AUS
- BNA
Related conversions
Common conversions
- What is 9:00 am Nairobi in CST?
- 9:00 am Nairobi is 1:00 am CST.
- What is 12:00 pm Nairobi in CST?
- 12:00 pm Nairobi is 4:00 am CST.
- What is 12:30 pm Nairobi in CST?
- 12:30 pm Nairobi is 4:30 am CST.
- What is 2:00 pm Nairobi in CST?
- 2:00 pm Nairobi is 6:00 am CST.
- What is 5:00 pm Nairobi in CST?
- 5:00 pm Nairobi is 9:00 am CST.
- What is 11:30 pm Nairobi in CST?
- 11:30 pm Nairobi is 3:30 pm CST.