Think twice.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Kenya
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Think twice.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Dual Pricing
Hawkers and bodaboda drivers charge double to those who ask for prices in English. Use Swahili to avoid paying the inflated rate.
Group Con Artists
Scams in Nairobi involve up to 10 or more people working together. Assume anyone trying to engage you is up to no good.
Distraction Theft
Older children may attempt to distract or get close to you to facilitate theft. Stay alert and avoid letting them get close.
Exploitative Begging
Some middle-class individuals beg at shopping centers to exploit white guilt. Simply say sorry and do not provide money.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Homosexuality Laws
Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya. Overt displays of affection, particularly between males, can result in open hostility.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Dengue
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Chikungunya, Cholera, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Meningococcal disease, Monkeypox, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Kenya has abolished visa requirements for all foreign visitors from 1 January 2024, and instead implemented an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
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
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
Dress code
The coastal areas of Kenya are mainly Muslim. Show courtesy by dressing conservatively away from tourist resorts and hotels – particularly in Mombasa. Wearing holiday-style clothing is likely to get negative attention at religious sites or buildings.
Source: UK FCDO →LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal and same-sex relationships are not tolerated in Kenya’s conservative society. Showing affection in public could lead to arrest and imprisonment. See the ‘Social media and dating apps’ subheading for more advice. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Although Kenya is generally safe, it has had bouts of jihadist activities and occasional post-election violence.
- •Homosexuality is against the law but is practised secretly.
- •Stay alert when walking or driving through Nairobi.
- •Avoid ostentatious displays of wealth.
- •Do not ask for prices in English when buying anything, especially from hawkers and bodabodas.
- •If you are unlucky and get mugged, a good tactic is to wave your arms and start screaming at the would-be mugger.
Staying healthy
- •Protect yourself from mosquitoes, as they carry numerous diseases such as dengue fever, malaria and yellow fever.
- •Malaria medications are recommended if you are travelling to rural areas (Nairobi is not within the malaria zone).
- •If you get flu-like symptoms, including fever, joint aches and vomiting, consult a doctor immediately.
- •If you get such symptoms within twelve months of returning home, seek a doctor's advice very quickly and immediately tell them where you have been in the last year.
- •Do not have unprotected sex as HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are a risk.…
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
- Kenya Warns Foreign Nationals Against Illegal Trading , Sets Deadline For Unlicensed Businesses2026-09-08
- African officials call for stronger protection of critical infrastructure against terrorism2026-09-07
- KISIA : Harrowing tales of assault on the press2026-09-06
- IMANI : The law that isnt there : How legal void enables state disappearances2026-09-06
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers in Kenya acknowledge that safety concerns require a shift in planning and budget. Navigating the country independently is perceived as difficult, leading many to conclude that spending more money is necessary to secure reliable transport and logistics. While some travelers express anxiety regarding their personal safety and the feasibility of independent travel, others focus on the high cost of remote accommodations and safari experiences. There is no consensus on the ease of travel, but the general sentiment is that Kenya demands a higher level of preparation and financial investment compared to other regions to ensure a manageable and secure experience.
“I underestimated how in a country where I feel my safety is more at risk, that planning becomes immensely difficult and you have to be willing to spend a lot more money to make things easy.
— r/travel
“I've never been to Africa before, but like most people I grew up watching the Discovery channel and am also aware that Africa isn't Europe/North America in terms of safety.
— r/travel
“Is this something that we can safely uber and do by ourselves, or is a guide/driver recommended?
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
G · 240V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 112 or 999 or 911 / ambulance: 112 or 999 or 911 / fire: 112 or 999 or 911
SIM / Data
Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom: After purchasing a starter SIM card you may access the net instantly, if you have an Internet-capable handset or a modem. However, when using your account balance to pay for access, the prices are steep. It is much cheaper to purchase a data bundle, and the more expensive ones offer much better price/limit ratio. For example, in 2023, a 5GB data bundle good for one month
Cash vs. Card
The currency is the Kenyan shilling, denoted "Ksh" or by "/-" following the number (ISO code: KES). It can be divided into 100 cents, though the smallest denomination in circulation is the 1 shilling coin.
Zoom in
One Kenya city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (10 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- gdelt — observed 2026-09-06
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09