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DateAlmanac

What is EAT in CST?

Central Time is 9 hours behind

East Africa Time is on UTC+3:00 and Central Time is on UTC−6:00 right now. The gap changes during the year — see below.

Convert a time

CST — Central Time

2:00 am

CST, Sat

Time in Nairobi
11:29:42 AM
Time in Chicago
2:29:42 AM
Difference
−9 h
Next clock change
March 14, 2027

When the difference changes

East Africa Time and Central Time do not change their clocks on the same dates, so the gap between them is not the same all year. Most converters show only today’s figure. These are the periods ahead:

  1. Now – March 14, 2027Central Time is 9 hours behind
  2. March 14, 2027 – November 7, 2027Central Time is 8 hours behind
  3. November 7, 2027 – onwardsCentral Time is 9 hours behind

Periods shorter than a day are not listed. Each zone changes at its own local time, so on a date when both move there are a few hours when the gap is briefly something else.

Daylight saving

East Africa Time

No clock changes

East Africa Time stays on EAT all year, so its offset from UTC never moves.

Central Time

Sunday, March 14, 2027

Clocks go forward one hour — 2:00 am becomes 3:00 am local time, and the zone is on CDT after that.

EAT to CST conversion table

Every hour of Saturday, November 7, 2026, converted from East Africa Time to Central Time. 9 of the 24 hours fall on a different calendar day in Chicago, which is marked.

12:00 am EAT
3:00 pm CST−1 day
1:00 am EAT
4:00 pm CST−1 day
2:00 am EAT
5:00 pm CST−1 day
3:00 am EAT
6:00 pm CST−1 day
4:00 am EAT
7:00 pm CST−1 day
5:00 am EAT
8:00 pm CST−1 day
6:00 am EAT
9:00 pm CST−1 day
7:00 am EAT
10:00 pm CST−1 day
8:00 am EAT
11:00 pm CST−1 day
9:00 am EAT
12:00 am CST
10:00 am EAT
1:00 am CST
11:00 am EAT
2:00 am CST
12:00 pm EAT
3:00 am CST
1:00 pm EAT
4:00 am CST
2:00 pm EAT
5:00 am CST
3:00 pm EAT
6:00 am CST
4:00 pm EAT
7:00 am CST
5:00 pm EAT
8:00 am CST
6:00 pm EAT
9:00 am CST
7:00 pm EAT
10:00 am CST
8:00 pm EAT
11:00 am CST
9:00 pm EAT
12:00 pm CST
10:00 pm EAT
1:00 pm CST
11:00 pm EAT
2:00 pm CST

Scheduling between the two

There is no overlap between a nine-to-six working day in Nairobi and one in Chicago — the gap is too wide. A call has to sit early or late for one side. Early morning in Nairobi is the usual compromise, since that is late afternoon or evening in Chicago.

A note on CST: it can also mean China Standard Time (UTC+8) and Cuba Standard Time (UTC−5). This page means US Central Time.

East Africa Time (EAT) is used in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia

Central Time (CST) is used in Dallas, Houston, Mexico City and Winnipeg

Other conversions