Kenya
Warnings and insurance
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
Kenya-Somalia border and northern parts of the east coast
Due to the risk of terrorism from groups based in Somalia, FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:
- within 60km of Kenya’s border with Somalia
- Eastern Garissa County, up to 20km north-west of the A3 road, including the Boni National Reserve
- Mandera County, excluding Mandera West sub-county
- Lamu County, excluding Lamu Island and Manda Island
- Tana River County north of the Tana River, up to 20km north-west of the A3 road
- within 15km of the east coast between the Tana River and the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki) River
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
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Update history
2025-06-24 16:16
Updated information on the potential for protests (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-11-04 12:48
Removal of information about a US alert on increased caution in Kenya and about disruptions due to ongoing strike action (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-09-13 16:28
Information on a US alert about increased caution in Kenya (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-09-11 15:40
Information about a disruption at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, due to ongoing strike action, that is affecting flights and access to and from the airport (See ‘Warnings and Insurance’ page).
2024-08-14 12:11
New information on health risks (‘Health’ page).
2024-07-18 13:52
Further information on protests across Kenya (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-28 16:29
Updated information on protests across Kenya (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-25 20:06
Updated information on anticipated protests across Kenya (Safety and Security page).
2024-06-25 09:41
Information on protests expected to continue across multiple cities in Kenya including Nairobi, from 25 June (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-21 11:12
Updated information on political situation (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-05 15:25
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.
2024-05-03 09:10
Information on extreme weather (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-05-01 12:17
Information on extreme weather (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-04-05 13:15
Information on North and north-east Kenya (‘Regional risks’ page).
2024-01-13 12:06
Update to terrorism section (Safety and security)
2024-01-05 11:07
Launch of electronic travel authorisation system (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-01-03 09:55
Information on upcoming introduction of electronic travel authorisation (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-12-06 13:14
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-09-08 09:29
Updated information on visas (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-08-16 10:41
Information on the Kenyan e-visa service (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-08-04 10:11
Information on entry requirements following fixes to the Kenyan e-visa service (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-07-27 16:30
Information on anti-government demonstrations (‘Summary’ page) and information about the Kenyan e-visa service which is not currently working (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-07-25 10:00
Information on anti-government demonstrations. (‘Summary’ page).
2023-07-14 16:12
Information on anti-government demonstrations planned for 19-21 July (‘Summary’ page).
2023-07-11 14:00
Information on anti-government demonstrations and transport strikes planned for 12 July (‘Summary’ page).
2023-07-06 12:17
Information on anti-government demonstrations planned for 7 July (‘Summary’ page).
2023-07-04 10:55
Information on the import and export of drones to and from Kenya (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-06-22 11:27
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-05-12 11:45
Change in entry requirements, ending the requirement to demonstrate proof of Covid-19 vaccination (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2023-05-03 14:25
Information about demonstrations, which are planned for Thursday 4 May (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-05-01 13:12
Information about demonstrations, which are planned for Tuesday 2 May (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-04-12 14:00
Information about demonstrations, which could resume at short notice (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-03-23 11:13
Information about planned demonstrations across the country, including in Nairobi, every Monday and Thursday starting from 27 March. (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2023-03-20 05:56
Demonstrations planned across the country, including Nairobi, on Monday 20 March.
2023-03-14 13:54
Updated information on consideration of local security arrangements and higher-crime risk areas (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and Security’ pages). Notification of US alert removed (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).
2023-02-17 16:29
Updated information on a dusk-to-dawn curfew in parts of Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia, and Samburu counties (‘Safety and security’ page).
2023-02-09 16:28
Updated information on terrorism threat: US Embassy alert (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).
2023-02-09 16:10
Updated information on terrorism threat: US Embassy alert over the festive period (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).
2022-12-20 10:35
Updated information on increased visible security presence over the festive period (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).
2022-11-15 09:48
Updated information on returning to the UK (‘Entry Requirements’ page).
2022-09-22 17:05
Updated information on COVID-19 entry requirements (‘Summary’ and ‘Entry Requirements’ pages).
2022-09-01 11:57
Updated information about the Supreme Court of Kenya’s plans to announce its ruling on the 2022 election petitions (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and Security’ pages).
2022-08-18 12:12
Updated information regarding post-election security, advising that political rallies may still occur in the coming weeks. Removed advice about the Kenya Aviation Workers Union strike as it did not take place (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and Security’ pages).
2022-08-16 09:55
Possible strike action by airport employees.
2022-08-15 17:58
Updated information about general elections in Kenya (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-08-10 10:09
Updated information about general elections in Kenya (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-08-04 11:39
Updated information about yellow fever cases detected in Kenya (‘Health’ page).
2022-07-11 15:21
Updated information on Kenya’s general election, due to be held on 9 August (‘Summary’ page)
2022-07-01 12:26
Updated information on entry requirements for Kenya (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-06-10 15:29
Updated information on local curfews announced by the Government of Kenya (‘Safety and security’ page)
2022-05-17 16:50
Updated information on the risk of terrorism (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages)
2022-05-05 10:15
Updated information on the risk of terrorism and the introduction of a 30 day curfew on Marsabit County (‘Summary’, ‘Terrorism’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-04-01 13:56
Updated information about increased police presence in Nairobi and high risk of terrorism through April 2022 (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages)
2022-03-29 18:24
Update on the recent statement issued by the National Police Service of Kenya about enhancing security through April 2022. (‘Terrorism’ Page)
2022-03-12 12:04
Updated information on entry requirements, with travellers to Kenya no longer requiring a negative PCR test
2022-03-08 18:33
Updated information on entry requirements (‘entry requirements’) and addition of information regarding an outbreak of yellow fever in Isiolo county and high risk in other counties. (‘Health’ page).