Travel Safety in Kenya

There are a number of security concerns associated with travel to Kenya. Crime is a countrywide issue, but particularly common (and violent) in Nairobi and Mombasa. Cross-country travel through rural areas, with the exception of national parks, also carries a heightened crime risk. This is especially the case in border areas.

The terrorist threat, mainly from the al-Shabaab militant group, is most acute in northeastern areas of the country, near the border with Somalia. However, attacks have also occurred in Nairobi and, to a lesser extent, Mombasa. There is an elevated kidnapping risk in areas near the Somalia border, with foreign nationals previously targeted; the risk in major cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa is generally limited to locals and resident expatriates.

Demonstrations take place quite regularly in cities and can be violent and disruptive. Inter-communal conflict, usually linked to cattle theft and land ownership, is an ongoing concern in Kenya’s central and northern regions. Flooding is an annual occurrence during Kenya's rainy seaons, which extend from April to June and again from November to December. Medical facilities are reasonable in cities, but services are limited outside of Nairobi and Mombasa.