This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and Security: Terrorism (kidnap threat at Dadaab refugee camp). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Summary

Safety and Security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

We strongly advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Kenya at this time due to the high risk of terrorist attack, civil unrest and high crime levels. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

We are receiving an increasing number of reports that terrorists may be planning attacks against a range of targets in Kenya, including Kenyan or Western interests. Western embassies, UN premises, shopping areas frequented by Westerners, hotels, bars and nightclubs, tourist resorts, safari lodges and other places frequented by foreigners may be particular targets. Terrorist acts could include suicide bombings, kidnappings, attacks on civil aviation and attacks on maritime vessels in or near Kenyan ports. These attacks could occur at any time and could be directed against any locations known to be frequented by foreigners, including Australians. You could be caught up in attacks directed at others.

Recent credible reports suggest that militants may be planning to kidnap Westerners working in Kenya along the border with Somalia. Further information suggests that Western aid workers in refugee camps in this region may be a particular target. In July 2009, three aid workers in Kenya were kidnapped by Somali militias and taken into Somalia.

On 15 January 2010, the United States issued a warden message to advise of a threat to kidnap Westerners in Dadaab refugee camp in north eastern Kenya. The message stated that, according to reports, terrorists planned to enter the camp feigning a visit to relatives or friends and then kidnap any Westerners in the vicinity.

You should evaluate your personal security situation in light of continuing terrorist threats. Embassies, hotels and commercial airlines in Kenya have been targeted by terrorists in the past and remain potential targets. Due to heightened security concerns, staff at the Australian High Commission in Nairobi have been advised to exercise greater vigilance and security measures have been increased.

The US State Department has advised that many of those responsible for the attack on the US Embassy remain at large and continue to operate in the region. A US warden message issued in July 2008 warned of the continuing potential for terrorist actions against US facilities, personnel and interests in East Africa, particularly along the East African coast. The message noted a number of al-Qa'ida operatives and other extremists were believed to be operating in and around East Africa.

Australians should be particularly vigilant in the lead-up to and during religious festivals and days of national significance as militants have used such occasions to mount attacks.

In planning your activities, consider the kinds of places known to be terrorist targets and the level of security provided. Possible targets include commercial and public areas known to be frequented by foreigners such as airports and commercial airlines, embassies and other diplomatic premises, UN premises, symbols and buildings associated with foreign interests, clubs, restaurants, bars, hotels and international hotels, schools, markets, places of worship, shopping areas including upmarket areas, outdoor recreation events, tourist areas, expatriate housing areas and maritime vessels in or near Kenyan ports.

Civil Unrest/Political Tension

Following two months of widespread election-related violence, a power-sharing agreement was signed between President Mwai Kibaki and leader of the Orange Democratic Movement Raila Odinga in February 2008. The agreement lowered the level of civil unrest, however the potential for violence remains.

The deaths of hundreds of people, the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and job losses during this period have resulted in increased criminal activity.

You should avoid all protests and demonstrations as they may quickly turn violent. Demonstrations over high food prices, controversial media and tax legislation have resulted in violence and arrests.

We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to the Nairobi suburb of Kibera. Isolated violent incidents and road blocks have been reported in this area.

Mungiki cult members occasionally cause violent riots and erect illegal roadblocks. Naivasha, Limuru, Eldoret and suburbs in Nairobi and Nakuru have previously been affected. In April 2009, clashes involving the Mungiki cult resulted in a number of deaths in Nyeri District. Foreigners are not generally targeted, but you should take care in all areas so you are not caught up in demonstrations or road blocks. Mungiki-led violence can strike at random and without warning.

You should monitor the media and other local information sources for details about curfews, political events and possible safety and security risks.

International events and political developments may prompt large demonstrations in Kenya.

Crime

The level of crime in Nairobi is high. Violent crime against Westerners, including armed carjacking, kidnapping for ransom and home invasions, occurs frequently and can be brazen and brutal. There have been fatalities. Anecdotal evidence suggests that foreigners are increasingly being targeted in homes, tourist areas and while travelling by road.

You should avoid walking or travelling after dark or on isolated roads, especially in downtown areas, public parks, along footpaths or on beaches, and remain vigilant during daylight hours.

Muggings and burglaries are common, particularly after dark. Jewellery and bag-snatching from open vehicle windows frequently occur while motorists are either stopped at traffic lights or in heavy traffic. When driving, you should ensure that windows are up, doors are locked and valuables are out of sight.

The risk of armed banditry, violent robbery, carjacking and kidnapping is also high on isolated roads and after dark. Crimes of this nature are common in Kenya's urban centres, coastal beach resorts, northern Kenya (including the North East Province), the northern parts of Eastern, Coastal and Rift Valley Provinces and north of Malindi. If you travel to remote areas or border regions, you could be the target of attacks or kidnappings.

Due to the very high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.

Scams, whereby criminals try to extort money from travellers using fake police, hotel and government identification, are common.

In Nairobi, confrontations between police and criminal suspects occur regularly. Bystanders have been wounded or killed as result of indiscriminate gunfire in crowded areas. We advise you to remain vigilant at all times.

Nairobi suburbs of Kibera, Mathare, Kasirani and Eastleigh: We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to the Nairobi suburbs of Kibera, Mathare, Kasirani and Eastleigh due to high crime levels. Australian High Commission staff have been advised to avoid Eastleigh.

National parks and game reserves: There have been several recent attacks on Australian tourists on safaris in national parks and game reserves, including the Masai Mara. Police and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) are working to increase security in the affected areas. You should take care with personal security when visiting parks and game reserves.

Visitors to the Ngong Forest Reserve and Ngong Hills must get an armed escort from the KWS because of the risk of robbery. The Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) can provide advice on reputable travel firms and guides.

North, north-eastern and western Kenya: Banditry, cattle rustling and ethnic clashes have caused sporadic violence in north and north-eastern Kenya and in the Mount Elgon region of western Kenya. Australians could inadvertently be caught up in violence directed at others. We advise you to seek advice from the police and travel in convoys if visiting these regions.

Borders with Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia: We strongly advise you not to travel to the border regions with Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia because of the extremely dangerous security situation. Localised incidents of violence, such as armed banditry, violent cattle rustling, counter raids and tribal warfare, are common along the Kenya-Ethiopia border. Kidnapping, armed banditry and clan warfare occur along Kenya’s borders with Sudan and Somalia. In November 2008, two Westerners were kidnapped on the Kenyan side of the Somali border and taken into Somalia. Kenya's border with Somalia is closed due to increased instability in Somalia.

Borders with Uganda and Tanzania: There have been reports of banditry and robbery at unauthorised border crossing points on the borders with Uganda and Tanzania.

Local Travel

Driving in Kenya is dangerous due to poor road conditions, poorly maintained vehicles and a lack of sufficient street lighting. Public transport is also dangerous as driving standards are poor and roads and vehicles are inadequately maintained. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.

Australians travelling by road should verify local security conditions beforehand. All travel on major highways in and out of Nairobi and on rural roads at night is not recommended and should be avoided. There have been reports of illegal roadblocks.

Travel at night to and from Nairobi's international airports (JKIA and Wilson) should only be undertaken with a reputable tour or taxi company.

You should only use taxi services provided by Jimcab and Jatco.

You should check the security situation in Eastern and North Eastern provinces with local authorities before travelling by road. A police escort may be required.

The safety standards you might expect of transport and tour operators, including adventure activities such as scuba diving, are not always met. Sufficient safety equipment may not be provided and recommended maintenance standards and safety precautions may not be observed. You should only use reputable tour operators and check that safety measures are in place.

Piracy occurs in the coastal areas of Kenya. To the immediate north of Kenya's waters, attacks by pirates against all forms of shipping around Somalia's waters and the Gulf of Aden are increasing in frequency. The International Maritime Bureau issues weekly piracy reports on its website. See also our travel advice on travelling by sea for more information.

Airline Safety

Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.

If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.

The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate

There are two rainy seasons, from October to November and from March to June, when flash flooding is common. Roads may be impassable during these times.

Kenya is subject to earthquakes.

All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure.

Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

Wildlife

Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

Swimming or bathing in the lakes and rivers of national parks is forbidden due to the potential for attacks by wildlife and the risk of catching water-borne diseases.

Money and Valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. ATMs that accept international cards are widely available in Nairobi and major towns. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas. Travellers cheques are not widely accepted.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

Australians are required to pay an additional fee to have their passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

For Parents

For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or child care facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or child care facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select child care providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Childwise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

Local Laws

When you are in Kenya, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Kenya.

Penalties for drug offences can be severe and include lengthy jail terms.

Travellers are not allowed to work in Kenya, even in a volunteer capacity, without a valid work permit. Offenders may be fined, jailed or deported.

Destroying Kenyan currency of any denomination is against the law.

Plastic bags are banned in Nairobi. It is illegal to sell, import, manufacture and store non-biodegradable carry bags less than 30 microns thick. Offenders could be jailed for six months.

Smoking in public places is banned. Offenders caught smoking outside designated smoking areas face a substantial fine and/or jail for up to six months.

It is illegal to take photographs of some official buildings. If in doubt, seek advice from an official before taking any photos.

Distributing religious material in public without a licence is illegal.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

Local Customs

There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in Kenya, particularly in coastal areas. You should take care not to offend.

Information for Dual Nationals

Kenya does not recognise dual nationality. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/Kenyan dual nationals who are arrested or detained. We recommend you travel on your Australian passport at all times.

Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Kenya for the most up-to-date information.

If you are arriving from a country infected with yellow fever you will be required to present a valid yellow fever certificate to be allowed entry into Kenya.

Kenya is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever. Some airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline.

If you have visited Kenya in the last six days prior to your date of return to Australia, Australian Customs officials will ask you to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate on entry into Australia.

Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Health Issues

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our Travelling Well brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.

The standard of medical facilities throughout Kenya varies. Medical facilities are adequate in urban areas, but may be extremely limited elsewhere. Public and private facilities will require either an up-front deposit for services, a guarantee of payment or confirmation of medical insurance before commencing treatment. In remote areas, air evacuation to a major city is sometimes the only option for medical emergencies. Costs for such an evacuation can exceed $A10,000.

A decompression chamber is located at the Kenyan Naval Base in Mombasa.

Malaria is a risk in all parts of Kenya throughout the year, except in Nairobi. Other insect-borne diseases (including Rift Valley fever, yellow fever, filariasis and African sleeping sickness) also occur. We encourage you to take prophylaxis against malaria, and take measures to avoid insect bites, including using an insect repellent at all times.

Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including cholera, yellow fever, hepatitis, measles and tuberculosis) are also prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis). Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.

The rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Kenya is very high. You should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to risk of infection. You can find out more information from the Department of Health and Ageing.

For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection of avian influenza and on Australian Government precautions, see our avian influenza travel bulletin.

Where to Get Help

In Kenya, you can obtain consular assistance from the:

Australian High Commission
Riverside Drive (400 metres off Chiromo Road),
Nairobi KENYA
Telephone: (254 20) 427 7100
Facsimile: (254 20) 427 7139
Website: http://www.kenya.highcommission.gov.au/

If you are travelling to Kenya, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register on-line or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.

In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the High Commission you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.