Kenya
Summary
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to:
- areas within 60km of the Kenya-Somali border
- Eastern Garissa County (up to 20km north-west of the A3)
-
Mandera County (excluding Mandera West sub-county)
- Lamu County (excluding Lamu Island and Manda Island)
- areas of Tana River County north of the Tana river itself (up to 20km north-west of the A3)
- within 15km of the coast from the Tana river down to the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki) river
COVID-19 entry restrictions for Kenya
Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for Kenya’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
Travelling from and returning to the UK
Check what you must do to travel abroad and return to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.
ItIf you’re planning travel to Kenya, find out what you need to know about coronavirus there in the Coronavirus section.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.
OnFor Mondayinformation 5about September,COVID-19 vaccines, see the SupremeCoronavirus Courtpage.
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You are advised to avoid crowded places and should continue to exercise caution, monitor local media and follow any advice given by the local security services as political rallies may still occur in the coming weeks. See Safety and security.
You must carry a form of ID with you at all times. A copy of your passport is normally acceptable, but recently some police officers have been insisting on the original document.
Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Kenya.
There is a heightened threat of terrorism, including terrorist kidnappings, across Kenya. Attacks, including terrorist kidnappings, could target Westerners, including British nationals. Attacks could occur at any time, including around religious or other public holidays or celebrations.
Attacks could be indiscriminate in places frequented by foreigners including hotels, bars, restaurants, sports bars and nightclubs, sporting events, supermarkets, shopping centres, commercial buildings, coastal areas including beaches, government buildings including Embassies, airports, buses, trains and other transport hubs. Places of worship including churches and mosques have also been targeted. British nationals are advised to be extremely vigilant in these areas. You should avoid regular patterns of movement and aim to travel during daylight hours. See Terrorism
There are frequent incidents of violent crime including mugging, armed robbery and carjacking, particularly in the large cities. See Crime
There is a threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. See Sea travel
If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK Government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission. Consular support is limited in parts of Kenya where the FCDO advise against all but essential travel.
You should consider making personal contingency plans, check this travel advice when planning travel around the country and keep up to date by subscribing to email alerts. See Safety and security
The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.
Update history
2024-11-04 12:48
Removal of information about a US alert on increased caution in Kenya and about disruptions due to ongoing strike action (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-09-13 16:28
Information on a US alert about increased caution in Kenya (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-09-11 15:40
Information about a disruption at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, due to ongoing strike action, that is affecting flights and access to and from the airport (See ‘Warnings and Insurance’ page).
2024-08-14 12:11
New information on health risks (‘Health’ page).
2024-07-18 13:52
Further information on protests across Kenya (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-28 16:29
Updated information on protests across Kenya (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-25 20:06
Updated information on anticipated protests across Kenya (Safety and Security page).
2024-06-25 09:41
Information on protests expected to continue across multiple cities in Kenya including Nairobi, from 25 June (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-21 11:12
Updated information on political situation (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-05 15:25
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.
2024-05-03 09:10
Information on extreme weather (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-05-01 12:17
Information on extreme weather (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-04-05 13:15
Information on North and north-east Kenya (‘Regional risks’ page).
2024-01-13 12:06
Update to terrorism section (Safety and security)
2024-01-05 11:07
Launch of electronic travel authorisation system (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-01-03 09:55
Information on upcoming introduction of electronic travel authorisation (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-12-06 13:14
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-09-08 09:29
Updated information on visas (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-08-16 10:41
Information on the Kenyan e-visa service (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-08-04 10:11
Information on entry requirements following fixes to the Kenyan e-visa service (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-07-27 16:30
Information on anti-government demonstrations (‘Summary’ page) and information about the Kenyan e-visa service which is not currently working (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-07-25 10:00
Information on anti-government demonstrations. (‘Summary’ page).
2023-07-14 16:12
Information on anti-government demonstrations planned for 19-21 July (‘Summary’ page).
2023-07-11 14:00
Information on anti-government demonstrations and transport strikes planned for 12 July (‘Summary’ page).
2023-07-06 12:17
Information on anti-government demonstrations planned for 7 July (‘Summary’ page).
2023-07-04 10:55
Information on the import and export of drones to and from Kenya (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-06-22 11:27
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-05-12 11:45
Change in entry requirements, ending the requirement to demonstrate proof of Covid-19 vaccination (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2023-05-03 14:25
Information about demonstrations, which are planned for Thursday 4 May (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-05-01 13:12
Information about demonstrations, which are planned for Tuesday 2 May (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-04-12 14:00
Information about demonstrations, which could resume at short notice (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-03-23 11:13
Information about planned demonstrations across the country, including in Nairobi, every Monday and Thursday starting from 27 March. (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2023-03-20 05:56
Demonstrations planned across the country, including Nairobi, on Monday 20 March.
2023-03-14 13:54
Updated information on consideration of local security arrangements and higher-crime risk areas (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and Security’ pages). Notification of US alert removed (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).
2023-02-17 16:29
Updated information on a dusk-to-dawn curfew in parts of Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia, and Samburu counties (‘Safety and security’ page).
2023-02-09 16:28
Updated information on terrorism threat: US Embassy alert (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).
2023-02-09 16:10
Updated information on terrorism threat: US Embassy alert over the festive period (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).
2022-12-20 10:35
Updated information on increased visible security presence over the festive period (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).
2022-11-15 09:48
Updated information on returning to the UK (‘Entry Requirements’ page).
2022-09-22 17:05
Updated information on COVID-19 entry requirements (‘Summary’ and ‘Entry Requirements’ pages).
2022-09-01 11:57
Updated information about the Supreme Court of Kenya’s plans to announce its ruling on the 2022 election petitions (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and Security’ pages).
2022-08-18 12:12
Updated information regarding post-election security, advising that political rallies may still occur in the coming weeks. Removed advice about the Kenya Aviation Workers Union strike as it did not take place (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and Security’ pages).
2022-08-16 09:55
Possible strike action by airport employees.
2022-08-15 17:58
Updated information about general elections in Kenya (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-08-10 10:09
Updated information about general elections in Kenya (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-08-04 11:39
Updated information about yellow fever cases detected in Kenya (‘Health’ page).
2022-07-11 15:21
Updated information on Kenya’s general election, due to be held on 9 August (‘Summary’ page)
2022-07-01 12:26
Updated information on entry requirements for Kenya (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-06-10 15:29
Updated information on local curfews announced by the Government of Kenya (‘Safety and security’ page)
2022-05-17 16:50
Updated information on the risk of terrorism (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages)
2022-05-05 10:15
Updated information on the risk of terrorism and the introduction of a 30 day curfew on Marsabit County (‘Summary’, ‘Terrorism’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-04-01 13:56
Updated information about increased police presence in Nairobi and high risk of terrorism through April 2022 (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages)
2022-03-29 18:24
Update on the recent statement issued by the National Police Service of Kenya about enhancing security through April 2022. (‘Terrorism’ Page)
2022-03-12 12:04
Updated information on entry requirements, with travellers to Kenya no longer requiring a negative PCR test
2022-03-08 18:33
Updated information on entry requirements (‘entry requirements’) and addition of information regarding an outbreak of yellow fever in Isiolo county and high risk in other counties. (‘Health’ page).