Reality Brief: Kisumu

Current alerts

• Rainy season

  Heavy rain from October to December: flash floods, landslides and road closures possible.

  Published on September 18, 2026 · France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, latest news and alerts

Alerts checked on October 2, 2026 against the sources cited.

Essentials before you arrive

• Entry requires an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) obtained before departure on the official etakenya.go.ke site; it is checked at boarding. Use only the official site to avoid fraud. The 3-month tourist stay can be extended by 3 months at immigration (50 USD).

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, entry and residenceGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: KenyaGuide: Entry and residence

• Passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival, with 2 blank pages according to the UK.

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Kenya travel advice: entry requirementsGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: KenyaGuide: Entry and residence

• Plastic bags are banned, including duty-free bags: leave them on arrival. Very heavy fines (up to 40,000 USD according to Canada) and prison are possible.

  Government of Canada, Travel advice: KenyaSPF Affaires étrangères (Belgium), Kenya: local legislationGuide: Entry and residence

• Emergencies 999 or 112; Kenya Red Cross (ambulance) 1199 or +254 700 395 395.

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Kenya travel advice: getting helpGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: KenyaFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, latest news and alertsGuide: Health

• Crime is among the highest in Africa: snatch theft, carjackings, burglaries. Do not resist if attacked, do not walk in town after sunset (Uhuru Park is dangerous), drive with windows closed and doors locked.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Kenya travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Safety and emergencies

• The currency is the Kenyan shilling (KES). Cards are accepted in major cities and tourist areas, sometimes with a 4% fee on the coast; ATMs are common in towns. National parks do not take cash: card or M-PESA.

  Government of Canada, Travel advice: KenyaFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, useful informationGuide: Money and banking

• The terrorist threat (al-Shabaab, ISIS) is significant nationwide. In Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, stay alert in shopping centres, bars and hotels used by foreigners and prefer places with visible security.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

Living in Kisumu

• The terrorist threat (al-Shabaab, ISIS) is significant nationwide. In Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, stay alert in shopping centres, bars and hotels used by foreigners and prefer places with visible security.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Crime is among the highest in Africa: snatch theft, carjackings, burglaries. Do not resist if attacked, do not walk in town after sunset (Uhuru Park is dangerous), drive with windows closed and doors locked.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Kenya travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Roads are dangerous, especially at night: old vehicles, reckless driving, armed attacks. Avoid matatus, choose the more expensive bus companies, and fly for long distances.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, useful informationFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

Field experience

• Tip

  Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (62), clinics (42), hospitals (28). Locate those near your home in the first days and check opening hours and on-call services locally.

• Tip

  Where to shop for food

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): markets (37), supermarkets (20). Compare a few basic prices between market and supermarket before settling into habits.

• Tip

  Banks, cash machines and exchange

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): banks (35), cash machines (2), currency exchange (1), money transfer (1). Withdraw and change money at these official places, preferably during the day, never in the street.

• Tip

  A shop for your SIM card

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): phone and internet (13). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

• Tip

  A furnished flat for the first weeks

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): furnished apartments (4). A furnished flat gives you time to visit several neighbourhoods before signing a lease.

• Tip

  A coworking space as a fallback

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): coworking (1). Useful for remote work when the connection or power fails at home.

• Emergency numbers

  Emergencies 999 or 112; Kenya Red Cross 1199.

  9991121199

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Kenya travel advice: getting helpGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: KenyaFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, latest news and alerts· Oct 2, 2026