Kenya: U.S. State Department Raises Travel Advisory to Level 3, Reconsider Travel

KENYA — On October 19 the U.S. Department of State increased its travel advisory for Kenya from Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, to Level 3, Reconsider Travel, due to the risk of health, crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, and traffic safety. Some areas remain designated Do Not Travel.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel to specified border and coastal areas and against all but essential travel to others, with the page still current as of early October and updated for Ebola detection information.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises exercise a high degree of caution overall, updated October 17, with do not travel to Somalia border regions. Global Affairs Canada advises exercise a high degree of caution overall, with avoid all travel to certain border counties.

The raise follows confirmation of imported Bundibugyo virus disease cases in Nairobi, the first Ebola cases recorded in Kenya, linked to the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Advisory Levels

• U.S. State Department: Level 3, Reconsider Travel, due to health, crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, and traffic safety. Issued October 19. Also includes areas at Level 4, Do Not Travel: Nairobi neighborhoods of Eastleigh and Kibera (crime and kidnapping); counties of Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Lamu, Tana River (except Tsavo National Park), Kilifi (north of highway C103), and coastal areas north of Malindi (kidnapping and terrorism); West Pokot County and western Turkana County (crime); Marsabit and Turkana Counties within 50 kilometers of the Ethiopia border (unrest).

• UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Advises against all travel to Mandera County, specified parts of Wajir County, most of Garissa County, and Lamu County (except Lamu Island and Manda Island) due to terrorism risk from groups based in Somalia. Advises against all but essential travel to Garissa Town, Tana River County north of the Tana River to Saka, and within 15 kilometers of the east coast between the Tana and Galana Rivers. Updated October 7 with information on Ebola detection and Kenyan response measures. Still current as of October 8.

• Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Exercise a high degree of caution overall due to the threat of terrorism and violent crime. Do not travel to border regions with Somalia, including all of Mandera and Garissa counties and the part of Wajir county from Wajir eastwards to the Somalia border. Updated October 17. Electronic Travel Authorisation required before travel, with mandatory inbound travel health insurance integrated into the process.

• Global Affairs Canada: Exercise a high degree of caution due to the threat of terrorism and high crime rates. Avoid all travel to parts of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Lamu counties near the Somalia border, and to parts of Turkana and Marsabit near the South Sudan and Ethiopia borders. Avoid non-essential travel to Nairobi neighborhoods including Eastleigh and Kibera. Updated with Ebola monitoring guidance after the imported case.

• Change History: Raised from Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution (last reissued July 28 with an “other” indicator added), to Level 3 on October 19.

• Regional Variations: All four governments identify elevated risk in northeastern counties bordering Somalia and in certain Nairobi neighborhoods. The U.S. and others list specific Do Not Travel or avoid zones while maintaining lower overall country ratings for core areas such as major safari corridors and coastal resorts outside the restricted zones.

Regional Breakdown

• Nairobi (Eastleigh and Kibera neighborhoods): U.S. Level 4, Do Not Travel, due to crime and kidnapping. Canada advises avoid non-essential travel. Other neighborhoods such as Westlands, Upper Hill, Gigiri, and Karen are not included in the Level 4 designations.

• Northeastern counties (Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Lamu, parts of Tana River and Kilifi): U.S. Level 4 due to kidnapping and terrorism. FCDO advises against all travel or all but essential travel to corresponding areas. Australia and Canada advise do not travel or avoid all travel to Somalia border regions.

• West Pokot and western Turkana: U.S. Level 4 due to crime. Canada notes risks near South Sudan and Ethiopia borders.

• Marsabit and Turkana near Ethiopia border: U.S. Level 4 due to unrest.

• Core safari areas, Mombasa, and coastal resorts south of the restricted zones: Remain outside the highest designations across the four governments, though overall country ratings apply and traffic and crime risks persist.

Entry Requirements

• Electronic Travel Authorization: Required for most travelers, applied for online before departure. Australia notes that mandatory inbound travel health insurance is integrated into the ETA process; coverage may be limited, so comprehensive travel insurance is also advised.

• Passport: Valid for six months beyond arrival, with at least two blank pages.

• Yellow fever: Certificate required if arriving from an endemic country.

• Ebola-related screening: Travelers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and certain other countries face enhanced health screening, including possible completion of a surveillance form and temperature checks.

• Currency: No maximum on entry or exit, but amounts over 10,000 U.S. dollars or equivalent require supporting documentation.

Emergency Resources

• U.S. Embassy Nairobi: United Nations Avenue, Gigiri. Main telephone +254-20-363-6000. Emergency after-hours +254-20-363-6000. Email kenya_acs@state.gov. Operational. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.

• UK: British High Commission in Nairobi. FCDO emergency number in London 020 7008 5000.

• Australia: Australian High Commission, Nairobi, Limuru Road, Rosslyn. Phone +254 20 4277 100. Consular Emergency Centre +61 2 6261 3305.

• Canada: High Commission of Canada in Nairobi. Global Affairs Canada Emergency Watch and Response Centre +1 613-996-8885.

• Local emergency: 999 for police, ambulance, and fire. Response capacity varies outside major centers.

Official Statements

• U.S. Department of State TravelGov, October 19, 2026: “Kenya: The Department of State increased its Travel Advisory for Kenya from Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel).”