Kenya is at Level 2: exercise increased caution

Exercise increased caution

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

Crime

Violent crime can occur at any time. Violent crimes include armed carjacking, mugging, home invasion, sexual assault, and kidnapping for ransom. Petty crime is common. Criminal fraud targeting Americans is a concern.

• Local police often are unable to respond effectively to crimes.
• Crimes like robbery are common. They are often committed by individuals riding motorcycles.
• Solo travelers in particular should exercise caution. Some Americans have been victims of sexual assault in bars and resorts/hotels.
• Petty crimes often occur in crowded areas or when people are distracted.
• Schemes to defraud investors are common. Americans often fall victim to schemes involving transactions in gold and other high-value commodities. Kenyan authorities are unlikely to assist Americans in recovering losses.
• Property disputes are common in Kenya. Americans who have bought land, churches, and businesses have lost their investments or been pushed off the property by locals who claim the land or business.

Kidnapping

• Terrorists, criminal gangs, and other armed groups kidnap for ransom. 
• Local law enforcement officials are not equipped or trained to handle the threat of kidnapping.

Terrorism

• There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity. 
• Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more.

Terrorists plot kidnappings, bombings, grenade attacks, armed assaults, suicide attacks, and other action in Kenya. Terrorists attack without warning. They have targeted:

• Kenyan and foreign government buildings
• tourist locations
• transportation hubs
• hotels and resorts
• markets and shopping malls
• places of worship

Unrest

• Cross-border incursions occur along the border with Ethiopia.
• Demonstrations, strikes, and other political and economic protests are common. They can turn violent.
• Protests often block key intersections and highways, resulting in widespread traffic jams. Protestors have also attacked vehicles containing Americans, including motorcycle taxis and safari vehicles.
• Violence during protests has occurred across Kenya. This includes rock-throwing by protesters and use of deadly force by police. Violent protests are most common in Nairobi and in western Kenya.

Health

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 expense. 
• Medical facilities will usually deny service if payment is not made upfront.

Some schools, substance abuse centers, and other facilities claim to rehabilitate people, but operate with little or no government supervision.

• Physical and emotional abuse is common in these places. Residents, including Americans, have been held in these facilities against their will.
• Americans or residents who lure individuals to Kenya under false pretenses or forcibly place Americans into such rehabilitation facilities may be subject to legal repercussions in the United States.

Traffic safety

Automobile accidents are one of the main causes of injury and death of Americans in Kenya.

• Major highways between Nairobi and Nakuru and Nairobi and Mombasa are only two lanes, and drivers frequently pass with little attention to oncoming traffic. 
• Tourists, who may not always use seatbelts, have also been seriously injured or killed in safari vehicle accidents.