KENYA TRAVEL WARNINGUK PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT11 June 2007 Kenya
SUMMARYA terrorist bombing in downtown Nairobi killed several people and injured at least 30. |
An explosion took place outside the City Gate Restaurant near the Ambassador Hotel in Nairobi city centre on 11 June 2007. Unconfirmed reports suggested that casualities are in the region of five dead and 31 injured. There are no reports of British nationals being involved. The cause of the explosion is not yet known. The British High Commission in Nairobi is in touch with the authorities and is monitoring developments.- Kenya shares with neighbouring countries a high threat from terrorism. Previous attacks have been against civilian or visibly Western targets where foreigners have been present, which have resulted in significant loss of life. See the Terrorism section of this travel advice for more details.
- Muggings and armed attacks are prevalent, particularly in Nairobi and Mombasa. Since 2004 there have been a number of violent attacks and murders of non-indigenous residents; car-jacking and armed robbery in and around Nairobi are commonplace. You should avoid travelling at night outside Nairobi and remain vigilant. See the Crime section of this travel advice for more details.
- We remain concerned about the inadequate security arrangements in place at Wilson airport in Nairobi. These have been raised with the Kenyan authorities and we continue to monitor the situation. The airport is mainly used for domestic flights, including charters.
- Political rallies will be held in the run-up to elections in late 2007. You should avoid political rallies and demonstrations and exercise caution.
- Kenya experiences a high level of violence in certain areas. Clashes between an a criminal gang Mungiki and police since April have killed several people in parts of Central province, notably Murung'a, and the Mathare slum area in Nairobi. Whilst unlikely to affect foreigners you should avoid these areas.
- Sporadic armed clashes and banditry take place in parts of north and northeastern Kenya, and violence has occurred in the Mount Elgon area of Western Kenya. Travelling in these areas should only be undertaken with care and after consulting the Police. The Kenyan border with Somalia has been closed since 3 January 2007.
- Clashes between armed gangs and security forces have occurred in parts of north and north eastern Kenya; the Mount Elgon area of Western Kenya; in parts of Central province (notably Murung'a); and the Mathare slum area in Nairobi. You should exercise caution if you intend travelling to, or through, these areas. See the Crime and Local Travel sections of this travel advice for more details.
- Around 150,000 British nationals visit Kenya each year. The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Kenya in 2006 were for road accidents and muggings (5 and 8 cases respectively).
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see Travel Insurance
SAFETY AND SECURITYTerrorism Kenya shares with neighbouring countries a high threat from terrorism. Previous attacks have been against civilian or visibly Western targets, normally where foreigners have been present. There was a suicide car bomb attack on a hotel near Mombasa on 28 November 2002, in which at least 15 people died. There was an unsuccessful attempt to shoot down an Israeli charter plane on the same day. Raids in Mombasa in 2003 recovered anti-tank weapons. There was a terrorist attack on the US Embassy in Nairobi in August 1998, in which 232 people were killed. These incidents highlight the threat posed by terrorism in Kenya and neighbouring countries and the capacity of terrorist groups to carry out attacks. This threat remains. Crime Incidents of car-jacking and armed robbery involving foreign nationals in and around Nairobi are commonplace. You should avoid travelling at night outside Nairobi and remain vigilant at all times, particularly on the roads that link Nairobi city centre to residential areas. You should avoid stopping at the side of the road and should drive defensively, with vehicle doors locked and windows closed at all times. Muggings and armed attacks by gangs can occur at any time, particularly in Nairobi and Mombasa. Avoid walking around after dark as attacks can occur anywhere, but especially in isolated areas such as empty beaches. There have been a number of armed attacks on golf courses around Nairobi, be extra vigilant while playing in remote areas away from the Club House of any golf courses. Be alert at all times. Do not accept food or drink from strangers as it may be drugged. Only stay in tourist camps with good perimeter security. If in doubt, seek advice from your tour operator or the Kenya Tourist Federation (Tel: + 254 20 604730). Do not carry valuables or wear jewellery in public places. Do not carry credit cards or cash cards unless you must: people have been forced by thieves to withdraw cash. Beware of thieves posing as police officers; always ask to see identification. There are many deprived areas in Nairobi, not normally frequented by tourists. You should seek local advice if you are considering a visit to such an area. On 4-5 June 2007 in the Mathare slum area of Nairobi, more than 20 people were killed in clashes between police and the local outlawed Mungiki gang. Since April 2007 Mungiki has been associated with a number of killings and acts of crime in the Mathare area and in parts of Central Province, notably Murung'a district. Whilst unlikely to affect foreigners you should avoid the Mathare area. If you travel to remote areas or border regions you could be the target of attacks or kidnappings. Incidents of armed car-hijackings are more prevalent in Nairobi and Mombasa but can occur in any area of the country. Do not attempt to escape from hijackers or resist their demands (See Local Travel for more information). You should take sensible precautions for your personal and vehicle safety, travelling in convoy in remote areas. Political Situation Presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in Kenya in late 2007. Most political parties will hold rallies in the run-up to the elections. You should avoid all political rallies and demonstrations and exercise caution. If you are involved in any security incident you should insist with both the Kenyan authorities and your tour operator that the British High Commission be informed straight away. Local Travel Most visits to game reserves and other tourist areas are trouble-free. In 2006 there have been robberies on visitors to game parks, including the Masai Mara. If you wish to visit reserves you should use reputable tour operators and arrive at your destination in daylight hours. You are strongly advised not to buy safari tours from touts but only through reputable agencies or from your hotel. There have been a number of accidental deaths in game parks in 2006. You should always follow park regulations and wardens' advice, but be aware that there are risks associated with viewing wildlife, particularly on foot or at close range. Bathing in rivers and lakes is forbidden in National Parks and is best avoided elsewhere due to the dangers from both wildlife and from water-borne disease. Rural areas, and in particular the arid north and north eastern parts of Kenya including close to the borders with, experience sporadic cattle rustling, banditry and ethnic clashes which regularly cause fatalities. A land disputes in the Mount Elgon area of Western province has caused over 140 deaths since December 2006. Whilst foreigners are not usually the targets of this type of violence and banditry, travel in the north and north east should only be undertaken with care and after seeking the advice of the police and in convoy with at least two vehicles to ensure back-up. You should be alert and avoid demonstrations and gatherings of people in these areas, which could turn violent. You should also seek local advice if intending to travel in the area of Mount Elgon. The border with Somalia has been closed since 3 January 2007. In addition landmines have in the past been used in attacks around Moyale, close to the main A2 road south. Vehicles crossing the Kenya-Ethiopia border at this point should stay on the A2, avoid staying at the rest house at Sololo, and travel directly to Marsabit Town before breaking the journey (but see warning above on Songa forest). You should, if possible visit Lamu Island by air. This is for security reasons and also because of the bad road conditions. Buses and other vehicles on the road to Lamu have been attacked by armed robbers in the past and overland travel from Lamu to Malindi should only be undertaken in an armed police in convoy. Road Safety A UK driving licence is sufficient in Kenya. Only hire vehicles from reputable companies. Take care if driving, especially at night, as road conditions and driving standards are often poor. There have been a number of serious accidents involving Kenyan long-distance bus services. Vehicles are often poorly maintained, and driven at excessive speed even on poorly maintained roads. Check with any bus operator on the standards they observe before using this form of transport. Another common form of public transport is the matatu, usually a minibus plying a specific route. Though very cheap to use, matatus are notorious for being poorly maintained, badly driven and in some instances do not have proper insurance cover. There are frequent reports of matatus being hijacked, or of passengers being robbed. You are advised to think carefully before using matatus. Rail Safety First and second class sleeping compartments area available on the Nairobi-Mombasa train. Doors can only be locked from the inside. If you are leaving your compartment, it is advisable to take your valuables with you. Air Safety We are concerned about the lack of security arrangements in place at Wilson airport in Nairobi. The airport is mainly used for domestic flights, including charters. These have been raised with the Kenyan authorities. We continue to monitor the situation. You should remain vigilant at all times. The Kenyan government has confirmed that there was a security incident at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on 8 June 2006. Individuals in possession of high-level airport security passes are reported to have drawn unauthorised firearms on airport officials. No member of the public was involved or injured in the incident, and the individuals responsible were subsequently arrested and deported. The Kenyan government has established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the matter. We urge all nationals travelling through Kenyans airports to remain vigilant. If you plan to charter a private aircraft, you are advised to check with the company's Safety Pilot about the condition of the aircraft and runways to be used. If the company has no Safety Pilot, seek another that does. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMSThe use and trafficking of illegal Class A drugs in Kenya carries heavy fines and jail sentences. The penalty for possession is ten years imprisonment. You must obtain a valid work permit before taking up any paid or volunteer work in Kenya; the penalties for not doing so can be a fine, jail or deportation depending on the nature of the offence. The taking of photographs of official buildings, including Embassies, is not recommended and can lead to detention. If in any doubt about what a building is used for, do not photograph it or film around it. Although there are no strict dress codes, you should note that the coastal areas are predominantly Muslim in tradition. You should dress conservatively away from the tourist resorts and hotels, especially in Mombasa town, to avoid offending local sensitivities. You should respect local customs and sensitivities at all times, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. Permission to carry any kind of firearm must be obtained from the local authorities prior to entry. It is illegal to destroy Kenyan currency whatever the denomination. Homosexual activity is illegal in Kenya. ENTRY REQUIREMENTSVisa Requirements British passport holders need a visa to enter Kenya. Visas may be obtained on arrival by air with a cash payment of 50 US Dollars or in advance from: Kenyan representation in the UK. More information, including application forms and visa fee rates is available at http://www.kenyahighcommission.net. In Kenya there is also an airport departure tax of 20 US Dollars, which is normally included in the price of airline tickets. Work permits If you are coming to live and work in Kenya, you should be aware that there can be delays in obtaining work permits. It is illegal to work without a permit and this also applies to voluntary work and to the self-employed. British nationals living in Kenya are advised to register with the British High Commission in Nairobi. Travelling with children Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at Immigration, please contact the Kenya High Commission in London. HEALTHWe strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Medical facilities, including ambulance services, outside major cities are very limited, and your insurance should cover you for the possibility of medical repatriation. You should check also any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. Malaria is endemic outside of Nairobi and in areas below 1,800 metres above sea level. However, in 2006, there was an outbreak of highland malaria in the West Pokot District (north western Kenya) that was associated with several fatalities. More than three-quarters of British travellers who contracted malaria in 2005 did not take preventive measures, such as malaria prevention tablets. However, malaria can occur despite appropriate prevention, and therefore you should promptly seek medical care in the event of a fever or flu-like illness in the first year following your return from travelling to a malaria risk country. From time to time there are outbreaks of cholera in Kenya. Before travelling you should seek medical advice about the malaria/cholera risk in areas of Kenya you are likely to visit. HIV or AIDS is also widespread and transmission may also occur through sub-standard medical facilities. Water is of variable quality and you are advised to drink bottled water wherever possible. Food prepared by unlicensed vendors should be avoided at any time. You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on health, check the Department of Health's website at: www.dh.gov.uk | 
