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The United States has issued a travel warning urging its citizens to exercise heightened caution when visiting Kenya due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and the threat of kidnapping.
The advisory specifically lists Eastleigh and Kibera in Nairobi as areas considered unsafe by the US due to a high frequency of criminal activities and kidnapping incidents.
The Embassy’s advisory, published on Tuesday, advises citizens to “exercise caution in Kenya due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.”
The warning highlights that violent crimes, including armed carjackings, muggings, home invasions, and kidnappings, can occur unpredictably, and that the police often lack the resources to respond adequately.
The US Department of State strongly recommended avoiding travel to the Kenya-Somalia border regions of Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera, as well as Tana River County and areas north of Malindi along the coast, due to concerns about terrorism and kidnapping.
The advisory also flagged West Pokot and western Turkana County for banditry, and noted that parts of Marsabit and Turkana Counties, particularly within 50 kilometers of the Ethiopian border, are high-risk due to cross-border incursions.
Additional risks include traveling after dark, as security threats and poor road conditions increase during nighttime hours.
The advisory further emphasizes the ongoing threat of terrorist attacks targeting public places such as government buildings, schools, religious centers, shopping malls, and hotels, with previous incidents involving armed assaults, suicide bombings, grenade attacks, and kidnappings, often occurring without warning.
The US government also cautioned about the frequent occurrence of political protests, strikes, and demonstrations, which often lead to traffic disruptions and can escalate into violent clashes, including the use of force by security personnel.
Political unrest is particularly prevalent in Nairobi and western Kenya.
The US Embassy urged its citizens to stay vigilant, avoid high-risk areas, and take all necessary precautions when traveling in Kenya.
