December 24, 2003
COUNTRY
DESCRIPTION: Kenya is a developing East African country known
for its wildlife and national parks. The capital city is Nairobi. The
second largest city is Mombasa, located on the southeast coast. Tourist
facilities are widely available in Nairobi, the game parks, the
reserves, and on the coast.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A passport and visa are required.
Visas should be obtained in advance, although airport visas are
available. Travelers who opt to obtain an airport visa should expect
delays upon arrival. There is a fee for the visa, whether obtained in
advance or at the airport. Evidence of yellow fever immunization may be
requested.
Travelers may
obtain the latest information on visas as well as any additional details
regarding entry requirements from the Embassy of Kenya, 2249 R Street,
N.W., Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 387-6101, or the Kenyan
Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York City. Persons outside the
United States should contact the nearest Kenyan embassy or consulate.
In an effort to
prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated
procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring
documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's
travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian not present. Having such
documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate
entry/departure.
SAFETY AND
SECURITY: On November 28, 2002, there was a car bomb attack on
a hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, in which 15 people were killed, and an
unsuccessful attempt to shoot down an Israeli charter plane departing
Mombasa. These incidents have highlighted the continuing threat posed by
terrorism in East Africa and the capacity of terrorist groups to carry
out attacks. U.S. citizens should be aware of the risk of indiscriminate
attacks on civilian targets in public places, including tourist sites
and other sites where Westerners are known to congregate, especially in
the coastal region.
Successful
presidential and parliamentary elections were held in December 2002 with
minimum reports of violence.
Travelers should
maintain security awareness at all times and avoid public gatherings and
street demonstrations.
The area near
Kenya's border with Somalia has been the site of a number of incidents
of violent criminal activity, including kidnappings. In a late 1998
attack by armed bandits at a resort in the Lamu district near the border
with Somalia, U.S. citizens were identified as specific targets,
although none were present. There are some indications of ties between
Muslim extremist groups, including Osama Bin Laden's al Qaeda
organization, and these roving groups of Somali gunmen. Recent
information about possible targeting of Americans for kidnapping or
assassination in this same area has heightened the Embassy’s concern. In
March 1999, a U.S. citizen was killed, reportedly by a Somali national,
on the Somali side of the border area.
Some sparsely
populated rural areas of Kenya, principally in the North, experience
recurrent, localized incidents of violent cattle rustling,
counter-raids, ethnic conflict, tribal or clan rivalry, and armed
banditry. During the past several years, incidents have occurred in the
Keiro Valley, Northern Rift Valley sections of Laikipia and Nakuru
Districts, and other areas north of Mount Kenya. A number of incidents
have also occurred near the game parks or lodges north of Mwingi, Meru,
and Isiolo frequented by tourists. The precise areas tend to shift with
time. For these reasons, U.S. citizens who plan to visit Kenya are urged
to take basic security precautions to maximize their safety. Travel to
northern Kenya should be undertaken with at least two vehicles to ensure
a backup in the case of a breakdown or other emergency.
Villagers in rural
areas are very suspicious of all strangers. There have been several
incidents of violence against Kenyan and foreign adults in rural areas
who are suspected of stealing children. U.S. visitors to rural areas
should be aware that close contact with children, including taking their
pictures or giving them candy, can be viewed with deep alarm and may
provoke panic and violence. Adoptive parents traveling with their
adopted child should exercise particular caution and are urged to carry
complete copies of their adoption paperwork with them at all times.
On August 7, 1998,
terrorists bombed the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, killing 213 people and
injuring many more in and around the Embassy. The U.S. Embassy
subsequently relocated to a different location.
CRIME:
There is a high rate of crime in all cities, particularly Nairobi,
Mombasa, Kisumu, and at coastal beach resorts. Reports of attacks
against tourists by groups of two or more armed assailants have
increased significantly throughout the country. Pickpockets and thieves
carry out "snatch and run" crimes on city streets and near crowds.
Visitors have found it safer not to carry valuables, but rather to store
them in hotel safety deposit boxes or safe rooms. However, there have
been reports of safes being stolen from hotel rooms and hotel desk staff
being forced to open safes. The best advice is not to travel with any
valuables. Walking alone or at night, especially in downtown areas,
public parks, along footpaths, on beaches, and in poorly lit areas, is
dangerous. In March 2003, an American citizen was mugged by four men and
killed while walking in downtown Nairobi.
Thieves routinely
snatch jewelry and other objects from open vehicle windows while
motorists are either stopped at traffic lights or in heavy traffic.
Armed vehicle hijackings are common in Nairobi but can occur anywhere in
the country. Armed robbers in Nairobi steal approximately ten vehicles
every day. Although these attacks are often violent, victims are
generally injured only if they resist. There is also a high incidence of
residential break-ins. Thieves and con artists have been known to
impersonate hotel employees, police officers, or government officials.
Thieves on buses and trains may steal valuables from inattentive
passengers. Passengers on inter-city buses should not accept food or
drink from a new acquaintance, even a child, as such food or drink may
contain narcotics used to incapacitate a victim and facilitate a
robbery.
Many scams,
perpetrated against unsuspecting tourists and foreign-looking residents
on foot, are prevalent in and around the city of Nairobi. Many of these
involve persons impersonating police officers and using fake police ID
badges and other credentials. In one of the latest scams, a tourist was
stopped by someone who appeared to be a beggar telling a "sob story."
The tourist agreed to purchase a cup of coffee for the beggar. The
tourist was then approached by "police officers" who told him that he
was seen talking with a drug dealer/counterfeit suspect. The "police"
demanded money from him. American visitors and residents should be alert
to these kinds of scams and immediately contact the U.S. Embassy if they
think they are being or have been victimized. Con artists may park their
cars on the side of a road, pretending that they broke down, and rob
persons who stop to offer assistance.
Highway banditry
is common in much of North-Eastern Province, Eastern Province, the
northern part of Coast Province, and the northern part of the Rift
Valley Province. These areas are remote and sparsely populated.
Incidents also occur occasionally on Kenya's main highways, particularly
after dark. Due to increased bandit activity, air travel is the
recommended means of transportation when visiting any of the coastal
resorts north of Malindi. Travelers to Garissa and Lake Turkana should
travel with the police escorts or convoys organized by the Government of
Kenya.
There have been
recent attacks on ships in the vicinity of Kenyan waters, in particular
near the Kenya-Somalia border. Mariners should be vigilant.
The Kenyan mail
system can be unreliable and monetary instruments (credit cards, checks,
etc.) are frequently stolen. International couriers provide the safest
means of shipping envelopes and packages, although anything of value
should be insured.
If you are the
victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local
police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for
assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to
find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and
explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and
prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local
authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local
criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
The loss or theft
abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police
and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The pamphlets
A Safe Trip
Abroad and
Tips for
Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa provide useful information on
personal security while traveling abroad and an on travel in the region
in general. Both are available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs’
website at http://travel.state.gov, or from
the Superintendent of
Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402,
Internet address http://www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html.
MEDICAL
FACILITIES: Adequate medical services are available in Nairobi.
MEDICAL
INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to
consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad
to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will
cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. insurance
plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States
unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and
Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside
the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies
offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred
overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.
When making a
decision regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many
foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing
service and that a medical evacuation to the U.S. may cost well in
excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas
often face extreme difficulties. When consulting with your insurer prior
to your trip, ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas
healthcare provider or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses
you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric
treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Useful information
on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is
provided in the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs
brochure, Medical
Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the
Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.
OTHER
HEALTH INFORMATION: There are frequent outbreaks of cholera,
and malaria is endemic in Kenya outside Nairobi.
Information on vaccinations and
other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and
insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at
1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or
via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.
For information about outbreaks of
infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s
website at http://www.who.ith/en.
Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/iht.
TRAFFIC
SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S.
citizens may encounter road conditions th [sic--the file
ends here]
