Safety and emergencies

Areas advised against

• Strongly advised against by France: a 100 km strip along the Somali border (Mandera, El Wak, Liboi, Dadaab, Garissa and the Garissa-Dadaab road), mainland Lamu county, and the borders with South Sudan and Ethiopia.

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, safety

• Advised against except for essential travel: remote parts of West Pokot, Turkana, Marsabit and Isiolo, western Mandera, Wajir and Garissa, and the coast north of Malindi. In Nairobi, avoid Eastleigh, Pangani, Kibera and Mathare. Lamu and Manda islands should only be reached by air.

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Kenya travel advice: regional risks

• The UK advises against all travel to Mandera county, parts of Wajir and Garissa (excluding Wajir and Garissa towns) and Lamu county outside Lamu and Manda islands.

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  GOV.UK (FCDO), Kenya travel advice: warnings and insurance

Terrorism and kidnapping

• 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.

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, safety

Crime

• 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.

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

• Beware of staged collisions and roadside "victims": people who stopped to help have been attacked. Carjackers sometimes set up fake checkpoints.

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

• Police operations against banditry take place in Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu, with a 6 pm to 6 am curfew in some areas: limit your travel.

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, safety

Sea, climate and natural hazards

• From October to December, heavy rains can cause flash floods and landslides: never cross a flooded road or bridge.

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, latest news and alerts

On the road

• 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.

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, useful informationFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, safety

• 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

• Embassy of France in Kenya

  Passport: France

  French embassy in Nairobi, also covering Somalia.

  Peponi Gardens, off Peponi Road, Nairobi+254 20 760 5555

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Kenya, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026

• High Commission of Canada in Kenya

  Passport: Canada

  High Commission of Canada in Nairobi.

  Limuru Road, Gigiri, Nairobi+254 20 366 3000

  Government of Canada, Travel advice: Kenya· Oct 2, 2026