Safety in Kenya: what overland travellers should know
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 8 July 2026.
Safety
- Crime — Common crime is high across the country and worst in Nairobi and Mombasa, where armed assaults happen and foreigners are not spared. Demonstrations can turn violent, so stay away from gatherings and keep journeys to the ones you actually need.
- Somalia border counties — Al Shabaab has attacked repeatedly in Garissa, Mandera, Wajir and Lamu counties, and the ministry says to stay out of that border belt, Tana River county included. There is also a kidnapping risk for foreigners there and in the remote north, for ransom or for terrorist ends.
- North and Rift Valley — Avoid non-essential travel in the arid northern regions, where armed raids and clashes between pastoral and settled communities occur. The same banditry has flared further south in Laikipia, Baringo, Elgeyo, Marakwet and West Pokot, and local clashes are reported in the Trans Mara area of Narok county. If you are heading for a national park, keep checking the security situation in that area.
- Lamu by air only — Reach the Lamu archipelago only by air: overland journeys between Lamu and Malindi are strongly advised against. Keep your guard up when moving outside your accommodation, and stay cautious on the coast even far from the Somali border, at Watamu and Malindi.
- Urban black spots — In Nairobi the north-eastern districts such as Eastleigh and Pangani and all marginal areas are advised against, and police have flagged robbery hot spots on Thika Road near Mathare, at the Globe Roundabout with Kipande and Kirinyaga Road, at Fig Tree market, at ABC Place and Kangemi on Waiyaki Way, on Ngong Road and in parts of the CBD. In Mombasa, limit non-essential trips in the city and look for alternatives to the Likoni Ferry.
- Rainy seasons — March to May and October to December bring heavy rain. Recent years have seen floods and landslides that badly damaged infrastructure and killed people.
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.