Rules for overlanding in Kenya

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.

A carnet de passages en douane is compulsory for a vehicle imported temporarily. The alternative is depositing a sum equal to the customs duties.

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.

Kenya drives on the left.

The limit is 0.08%. Drink-driving is treated as a criminal offence.

Seatbelts and a warning triangle are compulsory.

The ministry advises limiting internal overland travel and preferring flights, which are widely used in Kenya, and advises anyone travelling by road to check the state of the vehicle and its insurance cover first. Land border crossings call for maximum caution. The Kenya Tourism Federation runs a Safety Communications Centre that can give up-to-date information on travel, tourism and road conditions and help in an emergency.

Keep doors locked and windows shut even while moving, do not flaunt valuables, and limit the use of phones, tablets and laptops in traffic. Leave nothing of value on the seats of a parked car, and avoid moving around at night, in isolated areas, in poor districts or in disreputable venues.

Kenya has not required a visa since 1 January 2024, but you must obtain an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before you travel, and only on the official site www.etakenya.go.ke: applications made on any other site are automatically refused. It costs about 30 euro, takes about three working days, is valid for one trip only and can be requested up to three months before departure; you show it at your departure point and again at the Kenyan border control, and if it is refused you cannot travel. Children need one too. The passport must have at least six months of validity left and, to enter, at least one entire blank page: otherwise you may not be accepted into the country and can be sent back on the first available flight. The ministry also lists a return air ticket among the requirements. The entry stamp shows how long you may stay: declare your real period of stay and check the stamp, because extensions are granted only by the immigration offices and overstaying can lead to arrest.

Commercial plastic bags have been prohibited since August 2017 and may not even be kept at home. Fines from the second warning can be heavy, and there have been cases of police inventing fines to extort money. The ministry recommends not using or carrying any plastic bags.

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.

The law makes no distinction between using and dealing, and it is applied strictly. Sentences run from ten years to life.

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.

Be wary of local operators whose professionalism cannot be checked beforehand: scams on travellers and extortion threats are not rare, especially for do-it-yourself travellers. Social networks have also been used to lure victims into traps to extort money. The ministry recommends relying on professional tour operators.

Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Kenya, punishable by imprisonment.

A Kenya Revenue Authority notice states that a foreign operator coming from outside the EAC or COMESA countries must have a valid Carnet de Passages en Douane (or a pass sheet issued in the country of origin) before gaining entry approval. KRA says a paid foreign permit is issued to vehicles on tour in Kenya with a carnet. (Kenya Revenue Authority — Temporary Importation of Road Vehicles and Foreign Vehicle Permits)

The Kenya Revenue Authority lists a Certificate of COMESA Insurance or valid insurance cover among the documents required to apply for the foreign motor vehicle permit, together with a valid Form C32 or the endorsed carnet. (Kenya Revenue Authority — Temporary Importation of Foreign Motor Vehicle Permits)

Under the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations, 2020, nobody may import a drone or a component of it without a permit issued by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. The Authority may grant a temporary permit for a period not exceeding 30 days, renewable once. (Kenya Civil Aviation Authority — The Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations, 2020 (Legal Notice No. 42))

On its national park pages (for example Nairobi, Tsavo East, Amboseli and Lake Nakuru), the Kenya Wildlife Service lists these guidelines: stay on established roads and trails, as off-road driving is strictly prohibited; gates open at 6:00 AM and close at 6:00 PM unless you are spending overnight; the maximum speed limit is 40 km/h. (Kenya Wildlife Service — Nairobi National Park, Safety Guidelines (the same guidelines appear on the Tsavo East, Amboseli and Lake Nakuru pages))

Kenya's Communications Authority states in its 2023-2024 annual report that Space Exploration Inc. acquired a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) licence and that its sister company, Starlink Internet Services Kenya Limited, was issued with NFP-T2 and ASP licences. (Communications Authority of Kenya — Annual Report for the Financial Year 2023-2024)