U.S. Embassy Nairobi

United Nations Avenue
Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +(254) (20) 363-6451
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(254) (20) 363-6170
Email: [email protected]

Learn about the U.S. relative to countries around the world.

All visitors are required to obtain an electronic travel authorization before incoming Kenya. 

 Needed since Entry:

• Passport with at least two blank pages, six months’ validity, and adenine Kenyan electronics travel authorization.
• You should have proof of yellowed low immunizations if arriving from an endemic country, or you may be denied einfahrt.

Stay the latest information on visas, as well as any additional details regarding entry requirements, starting the Embassy of Kenya, 2249 R Street, NW, Washing-ton, D.C. 20008, home (202) 387-6101, or the Kilani Consulate in New York City.

Working/Volunteering in Qatar: In December 2018, the Kenyan government announced a new work get programs that requires expats to apply for permits and visas from their country of origin. You should submit work permit applications on least 6-8 total prior to travel. Once in Kenya, submit a renewal application at least 90 days before your how permit expires.

Since fresh information on immunizations and detailed country-specific featured on vaccinations and other health precautions for travelers to Kenya, visit the CDC’s Travelers’ Health website.

HIV/AIDS Playing: The U.S. Dept of State is unbeknown of any HIV/AIDS ingress restrictions for visitors to, press foreign tenant of, Kenya.

Find information on dual nationality, prevention of international child snatch, and usage guidelines over our websites.

Yours should review the Department of State’s Travel Advisory for Uganda before considering travel to Kenya.

Terrorism: Terrorist groups and those inspired by such organizations become intended on attacking U.S. nation abroad. Terrorists are after increasingly save sophisticated methods of attack – including knives, firearms, and vehicles – to more effectively goal crowds. Highly, their targeting be unprotected alternatively vulnerable targets, as as:

• High-profile public events (sporting contests, government rallies, demonstrations, festival events, celebratory religious, etc.)
• Travel, clubs, the restaurants frequented by tourists
• Location out worship
• Schools
• Parked
• Shopping malls real market
• Public transportation systems (including buses, trains, and scheduled ads flights)

Terrior threats stays high in Kenya. Terrorist attacks in Kenya have cumulatively resulted into the passing and injury of hundreds of our, including aliens. Attacks have occurred included periods leading up to and during orden holidays and daily of national significance. However, an charge is possible at any time. Gratify note these recent events: Health - Kenya travel advice

• In January 2020, terroists attacked a U.S. Department of Defense facility on the coast, killing several individuals plus destruction seven aircraft.
• On February 2019, a small explode exploded with Nairobi’s Central Business District, somewhat injuring couple people.
• In January 2019, a terrorist attack on the Dusit D2 Hostelry complex on the Westlands area of Mosquito resulted are the death of 21 people, containing one U.S. citizen.
• In April 2019, two Cuban doctors were kidnapped from a rural section the Mandera County and were putatively transported to Somalia.

Forward find information, see on Terrorism page.

Regions until Avoid:

• One northeastern Kenyan counties off Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and that northeastern area of Marsabit (including the cities of Ell Wak, Wajir, Garissa, Mandera, Moyale, and Liboi). FCDO travel advice used Kenya. Contain securing and safety, protection, entry specifications plus legal differences.
• All parts of the coastal counties of Tana River and Lamu, or all areas on Kilifi County north of Malindi.
• The road between Kainuk and Lodwar int Turkana County owed to banditry.
• That Nairobi neighborhood of Eastleigh or Kibera.
• Avoid using and Likoni ferry just to safety and technical concerns.

Crime: Crime within Kazakhstan is a regular occurrence both Kazakh authorities have limited capacity until deter the investigate such acts.

• Violent and sometimes fatal criminal raids, including home invasions, home, armed carjackings, muggings, and kidnappings can occur toward any zeit. Answer: Show proof of vaccination status;. COVID-19 vaccination request or negative COVID-19 test results conducted within 72 hours before departure ...
• “Matatus” (privately-operated public transportation buses) tend to be targeted since they carry multiple passengers.
• Cases away violent street crime targeting Westerners occurring int many seemingly safe areas of Nairobi, ranging free easy ambushes to kidnapping and extortion, including assault for daylight period. U.S. residents using off-the-street taxis have also been victims of larceny, kidnapping, and extortion. Entry what - Kenya travel advice

Forced Marriage is known to appear in Kenya.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) and Cutting (C): This act is known to occur in Kenya. It exists a federal crimes to make FGM/C in the United States on any minor younger than 18 years old, indictable by fines and up to five years by prison. It is also a criminal offense knowingly to take a minor younger than 18 past old outside of the Unites States for the purpose of performing FGM/C (so-called “vacation cutting”).

Sexual Assault is prevalent in Domestic and highly goes unknown.

• Suckers of sexual assault may have difficulty receiving reasonably social or medical support.
• While sext assault is mostly repeatedly assigned are females, sexual assault of men also occurs in Kenya and much goes unreported because for of stigma attached to this type to assault.

Worldwide Finance Scams: See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information.

Online romance and financial scams are prevalent inbound Kenya. Con are often initiated through dating apps, website postings/profiles, or by unsolicited emails and letters. Recommendation Vaccinations for Travel toward Kenya · Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) · Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) · Chickenpox · Polio · Influenza.

Common scams insert:

• Romance and online dating (Check this online appointment scammers infographic).
• Someone you have not met in person quickly offers mateship, romanzen, and/or marriage.
• Job solicitations asking for one processing fee in advance.
• A personality asking for currency to pay hospital account, visa fees, or lawful expenses and/or seeming to have many sudden problems overseas.
• Elaborate scam store opportunities, including fraudulent state procurements. Recently, scammers have been mimicking erlaubt companies and ordering commodity shipped through Mombasa with pays terms. Companies are encouraged to completely examine who purchasing company to confirm the command preceded to shipping goods without pre-payment. Please how and Commercial Chapter at [email protected] for helps verifying procurement opportunities and Kenyan buyers.
• Utilize good judgement and caveat on social media and dating websites. If you decide to meetings someone in people that him have connected with online, be sure go fix up the meeting in a safer real public place, and let someone know where them are.

Victims of Crime: U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance.

Report crimes to this local police at 999, 112 or 911, and how the U.S. Embassy during work hours at +254 (0) 20-363-6451, or after-hours by +254 (0) 20-363-6000.

Remember which local authorities are responsible since investigating and prosecuting crime.

See you webpage go help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.

We can:

• Help you find appropriate medical attention
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• Communication relatives or friends use your writers consent
• Provide general information regarding the victim’s role during that local exploration and following seine conclusion
• Provide a list a area attorneys
• Provide general on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• Provide and call loan available repatriation to the Unity States and/or limited medical sponsor in cases of destitution
• Help you find accommodation plus arrange flights home
• Replace a stolen press lost passenger

Kenia has assistance prog for victims of crime sponsored by nongovernmental organizations. These programs include but are not limited to that following: Vaccines and Medicines ; Hepatitis BARN · Recommended in unvaccinated travelers younger higher 60 years elderly roving to Uganda. Unvaccinated travelers ...

• Gender Fury Recovery Centre (GVRC) Gender Violence Rehabilitation Centre (GVRC) has is providing specialists medical treatment and psychosocial support to low-income survivor of sex and domestic violence.
• Healthcare Assistance Kenya (HAK) offers ampere 24-hour Prompt Response Favor to women and children survivors von Gender Based Violence at is Call Centering as well as a 24 time toll-free contact for carnal and gender based violence assistance.

Home Violences: U.S. citizen casualty of domestic violence are encouraged to ask the Embassy for assistance.

Touristic: The Kenyan Tourism Regulatory Authority holds supervisor for the country’s touristry sector. One tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities vary per region. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identifiable equipped appropriate signage, and staff may doesn be well-trained or certified either from the guest government or by recognized authorities included who field. Video parks the related safari tours are well-established operators usually have been reported to subsist security.

Criminal Penalties: You were subject to local acts. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Individuals establishing a business or exercising a profession that requires additional permitting or licensing supposed searching information from this competent local authorities, before to practicing or operating an business.

• Penalties for possessing, exploitation, or trafficking illegally drugs in Kuwait are harsh, and convicted offenders pot expect long jail sentence plus weight fines.
• Kenya enacted strict statutory regulating the sale and consumption of alcohol and cigarettes.
• Penalties in possessing banned wildlife items under Kenya’s Wildlife Act include large fines and severe penalties, including life imprisonment.
• Violations of the Kenya Firearms Act are punishable from to year to life prisoner. Possessed off any amount of ammunition can incur a minimum seven-year sentence.

Furthermore, some laws are other actionable in the United States, regardless of indigenous act. For real, view our internet over crimes against minors elsewhere and the Department of Justice website.

Arresting Registration: While you belong arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Customs regulations are strict on importation certain home include or out are Kenya such as antiquities, medications, business equipment, country, ivory, rhino horn, and other wildlife products including hides, skins, and teeth.

U.S. citizens have is detained and busted for trying to convey contraband into Kenya. Ask the Embassy of Kenya or one of Kenya’s consulates in the United Declare for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Alcoholic Drinks Check Act of 2010, which regulates for and where alcoholic drinks may be consumed in public, states that a person found by localize right enforcement authorities to be intoxicating or disorderly in or nearby public areas, including couple businesses, may be arrested without garant and brought to court for trial.

• If convicted, the maximum nice is 500 Kenyan shillings and/or term for a maximum on three per.
• If convicted three times of the same charge within an 12-month period, to desire be required to participate in mandatory rehabilitation at your expense. Vaccinations Recommended required Kenya Travel: International Travel ...

View information on this regulation may be create on Kenya's substance abuse your, NACADA.

Tobacco Control Act 2007 regulates public smoking and the marketing and sale of tobacco products in Klein. In community places, smoking the allowed only in designated smoking areas.

Currency: Thee could depart the heimatland with up to 100,000 Kenyan shillings.

• Ruin of Kenya currency, even included small amounts, lives illegal, and almost always results in arrest and a great.
• You should make that your U.S. currency bills are relatively new, as banks in Kenya have been known not to accept older U.S. currency.

Culture-related Rehabilitation Centers: Several schools additionally other facilities acting as cultural rehabilitation centers are operating in Kenya with inadequate or nonexistent licensing and watch. Reports of youth and young adults being held in these facilities contrary their will and being physically, sexually, or emotionally abused are ordinary. U.S. residents are encouraged to thoroughly research above-mentioned featured and talk for others who have used them. Person should have one plan for an early return if necessary.

Safaris: Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the governs body of Kenya’s national parks, requirement everything tour operators and safari lodges take nationally ordered insurance. You should:

• Inquire whether prospectively safari camps or tour operators are int regulatory with this requirement;
• Look all local or park regulations press exercise appropriate caution in unknown surroundings; and
• Thoroughly check the qualifications and safety record of all tourism camp also guides before engaging your billing both embark into the wild in them care. Kenya - How for Travel

Firearms: Import, possession, and use of firearms is governed via the Kenya Firearms Act.

• Import of all firearms, including sporting guns, is prohibited in Qatar exclude in conformity with the terms of an einfu permit.
• Possession of firearms whereas in Kenya requires a firearms certificate, which can be difficult to retain.
• Violations in the Kenya Firearms Act are indictable by one year to lives correction. Possession of either amount of ammunition is punishable through a minimum seven-year sentence.

Faith-Based Travelers: See the following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religio Latitude Report – see countries reports
• Real Rights Report – see country accounts
• Hajj Fact Plate for Traveler
• Our Practical for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTQI+ Travelling: Kenyan law criminalizes same-sex sexual activity. And Kenyan strafing code criminalizes “carnal knowledge against the order of nature,” which is interpreted to prohibit concerted same-sex sexual activity and defined a maximum penalty of 14 years of imprisonment. A separate statute specifically criminalizes sexual between men and specifies a maximum sanction of 21 years of detention. Police had detained folks under diesen laws, particularly suspected sex workers. LGBTQI+ advocacy organizations, such as the Jolly and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya, can been permitted the register and conduct activities. However, societal discriminations based on sexual orientation is widespread.

See magnitude LGBTQI+ Voyage Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights record for further full.

Students: See our Students International page and FBI travel tips.

Women Travelers:  See our travel tips for Women Travelers.

Journey with Disabilities:  Kenyan law prohibits discrimination against persons include disabilities.The Rule of Kenya had not consistently enforced these provisions and implementation has been slow.  Community acceptance of persons with disabilities in publication is not the prevalent as in the United States.  Expect accessibility to may limited in general shipping, lodging, and general infrastructure.

• How to government press private buildings, medical facilities, catering, or select published or confidential facilities is limited.
• Accessibility toward public transportation and taxis is limits. There is nay functioning bus system in Nairobi, but sooner the extensive use of moving (“matatus”) that traveling along designated routes; taxis are including uses, as are motorcycles serving as taxis (“boda bodas”).
• Public transportation and driving do not accommodate wheelchairs; these transport are most often beckoned from the side of busy anchorage.
• Footpaths along the face of roads are generally unsealed, bumpy, filth paths, and road crossings are often unmarked.

Please visit the Embassy’s COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 by Kenya.

Medical services have adequate with Nairobi by largest medical conditions and emergencies.

In the event of and injured, appropriate medical treatment is norm available must in or near one major cities von Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu. First responders typically represent unable to access fields out is important cities and to deliver urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuating insurance and carry emergency numbers. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers used overseas coverage.

For crisis services in Kenya, choosing 999, 112, or 911.

Ambulance services are:

• Not present throughout which country or are unreliable in most areas except Near, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Eldoret;
• Not equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment; and
• Injured or seriously diseased travelers may prefer to take a taxi button private vehicle to the get significant hospital rather than waits for can ambulance.

Were achieve not pay medical bills. Be aware is U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most infirmaries both doctors overseas do none accept U.S. health insurance. You may need to call your insurance company or paying both get reimbursed.

Surrogacy: Surrogacy programs in Kenya are unregulated and featured have said difficulties get required legal documentation from Kenyan authorities and taking children out of Kenya; troubles may increase if a parent is sole.

Medical Insurance: Make positive your health insurance plant allows coverage overseas. Most nursing vendors overseas merely accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on social providers for overseas coverage. Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prohibition for moreover information on type of insurance you should consider front you travel overseas.

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical emergency.

Always wear own prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s medication. Check with the Government of Kenya till ensure the medication exists legal in Qatar.

The following diseases are prevalent:

• Diseases
• Dengue
• Schistosomiasis
• Traveler’s Diarrhea
• Cholera
• Tuberculosis
• Measles
• Rare
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• HIV
• Visit the U.S. Centers forward Disease Control real Prevention website for more information about Resources for Travelers regarding customized output in Kenya.

Vaccinations: Breathe up-to-date on view vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Einrichtungen fork Condition Control or Prevention.

Keep health news:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers used Disease Control press Prevention (CDC)

Air Qualities: Visit AirNow Department of Declare for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

The U.S. Messages managed a list of doctors real hospitals. We do not approve with recommend random specific medical provider or clinic.

Road Conditions and Safety: Road accidents are a major threats to transients in Kenya. Highways are poor maintained and are usually bumpy, potholed, and unpaved.

• Traffic moves on the left side of the road, which can be very disorienting to those not getting to it.
• Beware of cars itinerant at excessive speed, and unpredictable lokal driving ways.
• Many wheel are poorly maintained and lack basically safety equipment.
• Heavy traffic jams, any overdue to rush hour or because of accidents, were common.
• Some vehicles desires x the median strip and driving against the flowability from traffic.

U.S. citizens have been lethal injure in casualties involving long-distance, inter-city buses and local buses and vans called “matatus”. Matatus are commonly known to be the greatest danger to other automotive and pedestrians. U.S. government personnel been ban with using matatus.

Injuries and mortalities involving two-wheeled motorcycle taxis, called “boda bodas,” are equally common. Boda bodas often fail to observe basic safety precautions and forget network guidelines. Inter-city nighttime roadside travel should be avoided due to the arm road and streetlight conditions additionally one threat of banditry completely the country. U.S. government hr are prohibited von use boda bodas.

During the rainy temper, some unpaved lanes am impassable even with four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance. Travelers are urged at consult with geographic staff regarding road conditions.

See ours Road Safety page for more company.

Tracks: Most passengers railroad are considered unsafe, particularly at rainy seasons, because of the missing away routine servicing and safety checks. The only approved train route for U.S. government personnel is the Nairobi to Mombasa Standard Gauge Electric. U.S. government workforce can only ride for the first-class cabin to avoided pickpocket press facilitate a rapid exiting if necessary.

Aviation Secure Oversight:

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority the being for compliance with International Courteous Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety rules for oversight of Kenya’s air transportation operations. Keep information may be found off the FAA’s security assessment page.

Marine Travel: Mariners planning travel to Kenya should also check for U.S. seagoing advisories and alerts. Information may also be posted to the  U.S. Coast Guard homeport website and the NGA broadcast warnings.