Kenya Travel Risk

Reconsider travel to Kenya due to risk of health, crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, and traffic safety. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Travel Health Notice for Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease for Kenya.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Travel Health Notice for Ebola for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

On May 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

Please see our section on Travel from Ebola-Impacted or Elevated Risk Countries section. Medical services in Kenya are limited. They are often unavailable in rural areas. Medical facilities in Kenya often lack sufficient medicine and equipment. Except for a few private medical facilities based in the large urban centers with enhanced capability, many health issues may require medical evacuation at your own expense. Medical facilities will usually deny service if payment is not made upfront.

Do Not Travel to the Nairobi neighborhoods of Eastleigh and Kibera due to risk of crime and kidnapping.

Do Not Travel to the counties of Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Lamu, Tana River (except Tsavo National Park), Kilifi (north of highway C103), and coastal areas north of Malindi, due to risk of kidnapping and terrorism.

Do Not Travel to West Pokot County and western Turkana County due to risk of crime.

Do Not Travel to Marsabit and Turkana Counties within 30 miles (50 kilometers) of the border with Ethiopia due to risk of unrest.

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

Kenya-Somalia border and northern parts of the east coast

Due to the risk of terrorism from groups based in Somalia, FCDO advises against all travel to:

• Mandera County
• Tarbaj and Wajir East constituencies in Wajir County, except for Wajir Town
• areas of Wajir County within 60km of Kenya’s border with Somalia
• Garissa County - except for Garissa Town, the constituency of Lagdera and the areas of Balambala constituency which lie north and west of the main road which runs from Saka on the Tana River up to the intersection with the C81 Road
• Lamu County, except for Lamu Island and Manda Island

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

• Garissa Town
• Tana River County north of the Tana River as far as the town of Saka
• within 15km of the east coast between the Tana River and the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki) River

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.

This guide also has safety advice for regions of Kenya.

Terrorism

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.

Terrorism in Kenya

Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Kenya.

There is a heightened threat of terrorism across Kenya. Attacks could target westerners, including British nationals. These could occur at any time including at religious events, public holidays or celebrations. Attacks are indiscriminate and could occur in places visited by foreigners, including tourists, such as, but not limited to:

• hotels, bars, restaurants and nightclubs
• sporting events
• supermarkets and shopping centres
• beaches
• safari parks
• commercial and government buildings
• places of worship
• diplomatic premises

Be particularly alert in these places. If you go regularly to any location, try to vary timings and patterns of movement. Always travel during daylight hours if possible. Look at the security arrangements in buildings you visit, including bag searches, physical security and guards. The main terrorist threat is from extremists linked to Al Shabaab – an Al Qaida-affiliated militant group in Somalia. Al Shabaab has issued threats and carried out attacks against Kenya, in part, due to Kenyan military intervention in Somalia. See Regional risks.

Recent significant attacks include :

• in 2020 Al Shabaab conducted an attack on a military airstrip in Lamu County, killing 3 people
• in 2019 there was an attack at the hotel and commercial complex at 14 Riverside in Nairobi, resulting in injuries and loss of life

There is some evidence of growing support for Daesh (formerly ISIL) in Kenya. On 4 January 2024 Daesh published a statement calling for a new global campaign of terrorism including a specific focus on western and Jewish targets. This statement and the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine could increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks that affect British nationals.

Lamu Island and Manda Island

Travellers to Lamu Island and Manda Island should be particularly vigilant given the close proximity of these islands to the Lamu County mainland. You should only travel to the islands by air to Lamu airport (a civilian airport on Manda Island), and not by road. The only commercial option for air travel to or from Lamu Island and Manda Island is through Lamu airport. See Regional risks.

Terrorist kidnap

There is a high threat of terrorist kidnap across Kenya. You should be alert to the heightened threat of terrorist kidnapping targeting westerners, including British nationals. Westerners have been the target of kidnaps in northern counties bordering Somalia and coastal counties. Further kidnaps are very likely.

British nationals are seen as legitimate targets, including tourists, humanitarian aid workers, journalists and business travellers. If you are kidnapped, the reason for your presence is unlikely to protect you or secure your safe release.

The long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners builds the capability of terrorist groups and finances their activities. This can, in turn, increase the risk of further hostage-taking. The Terrorism Act (2000) makes payments to terrorists illegal.

This section has safety advice for regions of Kenya. It only covers regions where FCDO has specific advice.

You should also read FCDO’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice.

Kenya-Somalia border and northern parts of the east coast

Due to the risk of terrorism from groups based in Somalia, FCDO advises against all travel to:

• Mandera County
• Tarbaj and Wajir East constituencies in Wajir County, except for Wajir Town
• areas of Wajir County within 60km of Kenya’s border with Somalia
• Garissa County - except for Garissa Town, the constituency of Lagdera and the areas of Balambala constituency which lie north and west of the main road which runs from Saka on the Tana River up to the intersection with the C81 Road
• Lamu County, except for Lamu Island and Manda Island

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

• Garissa Town
• Tana River County north of the Tana River as far as the town of Saka
• within 15km of the east coast between the Tana River and the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki) River

There have been frequent attacks in the north-eastern border regions, most of which were attributed to Al Shabaab.

Attacks have killed members of the Kenyan security forces as well as civilians. The Kenyan security forces have increased their presence in the affected areas. Armed militia groups operate within the Boni National Reserve and along the border with Somalia. See Terrorism.

Lamu Island and Manda Island

If you travel to Lamu Island or Manda Island, you should fly to Lamu Airport (a civilian airport on Manda Island). Do not travel by road. See Terrorism.

Partial regional extract; read the full official section.

Risk level

Kenya - Exercise a high degree of caution

Exercise a high degree of caution in Kenya due to the threat of terrorism and a high crime rate.

Regional risks

Border with Somalia - Avoid all travel

Avoid all travel to Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Lamu counties bordering Somalia, due to a risk of terrorist attacks, kidnapping and armed attacks. This advisory excludes Lamu Island and Manda Island where you should exercise a high degree of caution.

Border with South Sudan and Ethiopia - Avoid all travel

Avoid all travel to Turkana and Marsabit counties, within 110 km of the borders with South Sudan and Ethiopia, due to the risk of terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry and cross-border violence.

Regional advisory - Avoid all travel

Avoid all travel to the following areas, due to a risk of kidnapping and attacks:

• within 50 km of the coast of Tana River County
• within 50 km of the coast of Kilifi County (from north of the city of Malindi to the Tana River County limits)

Kibera neighbourhood of Nairobi - Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid non-essential travel to the Kibera neighbourhood of Nairobi due to the high crime rate.

Terrorism

There is a threat of terrorism throughout Kenya, including in Nairobi.

Terrorist attacks have occurred in the past:

• in Nairobi
• in the coastal region, including Mombasa and Malindi
• in the Lamu, Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties, near the border with Somalia

Foreigners have been targeted, and further attacks cannot be ruled out.

Targets could include:

• government buildings, including police stations
• schools, including universities
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners
• cultural venues

Be particularly vigilant during:

• sporting events
• religious holidays
• public celebrations
• major political events, such as elections

Terrorists may use such occasions to mount attacks.

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places and stay at hotels that have robust security measures.

Areas bordering Somalia

Kenya’s border with Somalia is porous despite being officially closed. Armed groups, including Somali militias, continue cross-border attacks and have targeted foreigners and humanitarian workers in the past. Some incidents involved the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), resulting in casualties, including incidents near the Dadaab refugee camp, 80 km from the Somali border.

There is a risk of kidnapping in the northeastern counties bordering Somalia, including Mandera, Wajir and Garissa, as well as in Lamu County’s coastal areas. Groups based in Somalia and northeastern Kenya have previously targeted humanitarian workers, tourists, and local residents, resulting in casualties.

Accommodations in beachfront areas are vulnerable to armed robbery, break-ins, and carjackings.

Disputes between Somali clans further contribute to instability. Kenyan authorities maintain a heightened security presence and frequently use roadblocks to limit Somali incursions and arms trafficking in the border area.

肯尼亚现有红色（极高风险）地区4个，其他地区均为黄色（中风险）。

一、红色地区：曼德拉郡、瓦吉尔郡、加里萨郡、拉穆郡。外交部提醒中国公民近期暂勿前往肯尼亚上述地区，已在当地的人员和机构尽快撤离或转移至安全地区。如遇紧急情况，请及时报警并与中国驻肯尼亚使馆取得联系。

二、黄色地区：其他地区。外交部提醒在肯尼亚其他地区的人员也要加强防范，注意安全。如遇紧急情况，请及时报警并与中国驻肯尼亚使馆取得联系。

外交部和驻外使领馆将继续密切关注海外安全形势变化，动态调整有关风险评估，并实时在中国领事服务网等平台发布、更新相应安全提醒，请持续关注。