Rules for overlanding in Kenya
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 8 July 2026.
Which licence you need
- All vehicles — What the ministry lists is an International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva or the 1968 Vienna convention. Check what applies to the licence you hold.
An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.
At the wheel
- Carnet de passages — A carnet de passages en douane is compulsory for a vehicle imported temporarily. The alternative is depositing a sum equal to the customs duties.
- Insurance — Temporary third-party cover can be bought on arrival: from agencies in the port if you come in by ship, or from insurers or an Automobile Association of Kenya office if you come in overland.
- Left-hand traffic — Kenya drives on the left.
- Alcohol — The limit is 0.08%. Drink-driving is treated as a criminal offence.
- Equipment on board — Seatbelts and a warning triangle are compulsory.
- Overland travel advice — The ministry advises keeping internal overland travel to a minimum and flying instead, and asks anyone driving to check the state of the vehicle and its insurance cover first. Land border crossings call for maximum caution.
- In traffic — Keep doors locked and windows shut even while moving, and keep phones, tablets and laptops out of sight in traffic. Leave nothing of value on the seats of a parked car, and avoid driving at night, in isolated areas or through poor districts.
What catches travellers out
- Plastic bags are banned — Commercial plastic bags have been prohibited since August 2017 and you may not even keep them with you. Fines from the second warning can be heavy, and there have been cases of police inventing fines to extort money.
- Drones — Bringing in or flying a drone without prior specific authorisation is prohibited, tourist use included. Without the paperwork you risk having the kit seized, being held for checks and facing penalties that can be criminal.
- Drugs — The law makes no distinction between using and dealing, and it is applied strictly. Sentences run from ten years to life.
- Wildlife souvenirs — Ivory, rhino horn, sea turtle, coral and reptile skins cannot be imported or exported, and simply possessing them is an offence with very severe penalties. Take care with jewellery and shells even when only transiting an airport.
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 8 July 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Kenya before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 8 July 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.