Terrorism
According to youremailverifier, there is a risk of terrorist attacks in Kenya. The threat of retaliation by the Somali Al-Shabaab terrorist organization in response to the participation of the Kenyan armed forces in the AMISOM mission in Somalia must be taken seriously. Several attacks and a number of foiled attacks have shown the determination of the terrorists. Destinations included government buildings, hotels, bars and restaurants, shopping centers, public transport (e.g. buses, minibuses, ferries) and airports. Caution and vigilance are therefore advised. Larger gatherings of people should be avoided.
We strongly advise against visiting the border area with Somalia in northeastern Kenya.
Travel closer than 60 km to the Somali border should be avoided at all costs, given the Kenyan involvement in military operations against the Al-Shabaab militia in southern Somalia and the continued risk of attacks by Somali criminals. This includes Kiwayu and coastal regions north of Pate Island.
Staying in this area is strongly discouraged due to terrorist activities in mainland Lamu Province. Particular caution is advised when traveling to the Lamu Archipelago. You should definitely arrive by air.
When traveling by car to the northern and northeastern parts of Kenya, the coastal region north of Malindi, the northeast province and the northern coastal province – especially to Lamu – protection should be sought in a guarded convoy.
Crime
The danger of falling victim to armed robbery exists in all parts of the country. Vigilance and careful handling of money, credit cards and valuables are required at all times. Travelers should be particularly careful when using bank cards (credit card payments, withdrawals from ATMs). Not excluded are spying, which then lead to so-called express kidnappings, in which western foreigners are also detained for several hours in order to withdraw large amounts of money with their bank cards.
Before individual excursions, information on assessing the situation and weighing up the risks should be obtained from the travel and hotel managers.
Due to increased crime, staying and visiting certain parts of Nairobi (Eastleigh, Pangani and slum areas) is not recommended.
The inner cities of Nairobi and Mombasa should generally be avoided at night. The old town of Mombasa should only be visited with people familiar with the area and during the day. There is an increased risk of robbery (pedestrians and drivers). In some cases, these are linked to the removal of the vehicle (“car jacking”). In addition, poorer residential areas, slums and bus stations and stops should, if possible, not be visited during the day. Organized “slum tours” have also resulted in violent attacks on groups of visitors in the past.
There is also an increased risk of being attacked when walking on beaches after dark and outside the hotel complex. In general, you should refrain from visibly carrying valuables. It is advisable to take a taxi even for the shortest distances.
There is an increased risk of falling victim to armed attacks, kidnappings or tribal disputes (“land issues”) in the central, northern and northeastern parts of Kenya, in the coastal region north of Malindi and on the roads to the northeast and northern coastal provinces. The Kenyan security authorities have significantly increased their presence in the region mentioned, the security situation has improved somewhat. Sporadic criminal activities are also reported in the border area between Kenya and Tanzania in the regions of Maasai Mara, Lake Natron, Namanga and Amboseli Park.
Individual tourists who visit the national parks without group supervision should stay overnight in the existing lodges or on guarded campsites. Especially on the coast there are occasional attacks on privately rented bungalows and holiday homes. When choosing accommodation, travelers should generally take appropriate safety precautions. The same applies to visiting bars, restaurants and nightclubs, especially on the coast, as there have been isolated armed attacks.
Demonstrations for political or social reasons can escalate unpredictably and should be avoided on a large scale.
Due to the tense security situation, we strongly advise against visiting the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps.
Land / road travel
Overland journeys with public buses or the minibuses called “matatus” should be avoided. Some of the vehicles are not in a roadworthy condition. Serious accidents involving intercity buses with fatalities due to excessive speed or driver fatigue are unfortunately comparatively common. For self-organized trips, the route should be planned so that the destination can be reached in daylight. At night there is a risk of armed attacks, even in residential areas. The sometimes poor road conditions can make journeys considerably longer or prove to be an insurmountable obstacle. You should therefore plan your estimated travel times and routes using current information from people familiar with the area.
Safaris
Serious accidents at local safari companies regularly occur due to the aggressive driving style, fatigue or limited off-road capability of the minibuses. It is recommended to ask the travel or hotel management about the experiences with the respective safari provider and to make sure that the vehicles are in a roadworthy condition when starting the journey. In addition, the driver should be vehemently advised of an appropriate driving style when driving at risk.
Air traffic
The security checks at the Kenyan international airports Nairobi “Jomo Kenyatta” and Mombasa “Daniel Arap Moi” do not always meet international standards. Past events cast doubt on their efficiency. The security checks at the regional Nairobi-Wilson airport – the starting point for numerous flying safaris – are assessed as inadequate.
Pirate at sea
There is still a risk of pirate attacks and capture off the coasts of Somalia and its neighboring countries as well as in the adjacent waters. Ships deep in the Indian Ocean (around the Seychelles and Madagascar) and off Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Yemen and Oman are also at risk of being attacked and hijacked. Skippers in the aforementioned areas are strongly advised to exercise the utmost caution. Although international efforts to curb piracy have shown success, the threat of pirate attack persists.
Skippers in the endangered waters are strongly advised to register with the Maritime Security Center at external link, opens in new window www.mschoa.org.