What the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada tell their own citizens about travelling to Kenya, in their own words, plus practical help with packing.
Travel advice levels
Each government rates the risks for its own citizens, on its own scale. The levels are shown exactly as published; they are not equivalent to each other and are not combined here.
UK
United KingdomForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
Advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country
No numbered levels
Updated 4 September 2026
Latest change, in the source's words:Removed information about industrial action ('Warnings and insurance' page)
The official source shows no update to this advice in over 12 months. Check the official page for the current version.
Trip Rulebook could not refresh this source since 30 September 2026. The official website may have newer advice.
Emergency numbers
From the section “Emergency services in Kenya” of the UK government's travel advice for Kenya, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.
Telephone: 999 (ambulance, fire, police)
Local laws and customs
From the section “Laws and cultural differences” of the UK government's travel advice for Kenya, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.
Personal ID
You must always carry ID. A copy of your passport is normally acceptable, but police officers may insist on seeing the original document so keep it within a reasonable travelling distance.
Dress code
The coastal areas of Kenya are mainly Muslim. Show courtesy by dressing conservatively away from tourist resorts and hotels – particularly in Mombasa. Wearing holiday-style clothing is likely to get negative attention at religious sites or buildings.
Smoking and e-cigarette bans
It is illegal to smoke in any public place in Kenya, except in designated smoking areas. If you smoke in a prohibited place, you could get a fine of up to 50,000 Kenyan shillings or up to 6 months in prison.
Illegal drugs and prison sentences
If you’re convicted of using illegal drugs in Kenya, you will get a heavy fine and prison sentence. The penalty for possession is up to 10 years in prison. People found to be trafficking illegal drugs could face life imprisonment.
Using cameras in secure areas
It is illegal to take photographs of official buildings, including embassies, or at airports. You could be arrested if caught.
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal and same-sex relationships are not tolerated in Kenya’s conservative society. Showing affection in public could lead to arrest and imprisonment. See the ‘Social media and dating apps’ subheading for more advice.
It is illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected wild animal or trade any of its parts without a licence. If you are caught buying or trafficking banned goods, you could face a fine or prison sentence.
Travelling with medicines
From the section “Medication” of the UK government's travel advice for Kenya, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
From the section “Extreme weather and natural disasters” of the UK government's travel advice for Kenya, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.
Practical suggestions from Trip Rulebook, based on open data and fixed rules. They are not safety or legal advice: rules on clothing, medicines and restricted items are covered only by the official text on this page.
Chargers and plugs
Plug typesG
Voltage240/415 V
Frequency50 Hz
Plug and voltage data: Wikipedia, “Mains electricity by country”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence), retrieved 2026-09-29. Sockets in hotels can differ; the label on your charger (for example “INPUT 100–240V”) tells you which voltages it accepts.
Clothes for the weather
Rainfall Average temperature
January
Average
26 °C (78 °F)
Lows
19 °C (66 °F)
Highs
32 °C (90 °F)
Rain
32 mm (1.3 in)
Light, breathable clothes, sun hat and sunscreen.
Very hot days on average: loose clothing and a refillable water bottle.
Big difference between day and night: pack layers.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.
February
Average
26 °C (79 °F)
Lows
19 °C (67 °F)
Highs
33 °C (92 °F)
Rain
25 mm (1.0 in)
Light, breathable clothes, sun hat and sunscreen.
Very hot days on average: loose clothing and a refillable water bottle.
Big difference between day and night: pack layers.
Usually dry.
March
Average
27 °C (80 °F)
Lows
20 °C (69 °F)
Highs
33 °C (92 °F)
Rain
64 mm (2.5 in)
Light, breathable clothes, sun hat and sunscreen.
Very hot days on average: loose clothing and a refillable water bottle.
Big difference between day and night: pack layers.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.
April
Average
26 °C (79 °F)
Lows
21 °C (69 °F)
Highs
32 °C (89 °F)
Rain
134 mm (5.3 in)
Light, breathable clothes, sun hat and sunscreen.
Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.
May
Average
25 °C (77 °F)
Lows
20 °C (68 °F)
Highs
30 °C (87 °F)
Rain
93 mm (3.6 in)
Light, breathable clothes, sun hat and sunscreen.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.
June
Average
24 °C (75 °F)
Lows
19 °C (65 °F)
Highs
30 °C (85 °F)
Rain
37 mm (1.4 in)
Light, breathable clothes, sun hat and sunscreen.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.
July
Average
23 °C (74 °F)
Lows
18 °C (64 °F)
Highs
29 °C (84 °F)
Rain
32 mm (1.3 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.
August
Average
24 °C (75 °F)
Lows
18 °C (65 °F)
Highs
29 °C (85 °F)
Rain
35 mm (1.4 in)
Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.
September
Average
25 °C (76 °F)
Lows
19 °C (65 °F)
Highs
31 °C (87 °F)
Rain
28 mm (1.1 in)
Light, breathable clothes, sun hat and sunscreen.
Big difference between day and night: pack layers.
Usually dry.
October
Average
25 °C (77 °F)
Lows
19 °C (67 °F)
Highs
31 °C (88 °F)
Rain
78 mm (3.1 in)
Light, breathable clothes, sun hat and sunscreen.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.
November
Average
25 °C (77 °F)
Lows
20 °C (67 °F)
Highs
31 °C (87 °F)
Rain
113 mm (4.4 in)
Light, breathable clothes, sun hat and sunscreen.
Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.
December
Average
25 °C (77 °F)
Lows
19 °C (66 °F)
Highs
31 °C (88 °F)
Rain
60 mm (2.4 in)
Light, breathable clothes, sun hat and sunscreen.
Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.
National averages for 1991-2020. Coasts, mountains and regions can be very different, and any given year can be warmer, colder or wetter. Suggestions come from fixed rules based on these averages. Climate data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, observed climate data (CRU TS), CRU TS (cru_ts4.09), Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia, CC BY 4.0 (licence).
Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality and change often, so Trip Rulebook does not summarise them. Each government explains the rules for its own citizens. If you travel on another passport, check with the embassy or the official immigration website of Kenya.
This page is guidance, not legal advice. Laws and advice change without notice and are written for each government's own citizens, so they may apply to you differently. Confirm everything with the official source before you travel. Terms of use.