Safety in Kenya
Safety in Kenya is much less of a concern in rural areas than in the larger cities like Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. Expats living in Nairobi, in particular, should be wary of crime and road safety.
Expats usually hire security guards for their home, or else live in gated communities or compounds in Kenya. Home robberies are less frequent than car jackings, which are very common, and even bus passengers are sometimes mugged. Some roads going out of the city centre shouldn't be used, but most are well policed. Most muggings do not end in violence, and expats are encouraged not to resist.
The country also faced considerable violence during the election of 2008, which left more than 1,000 people dead and 300,000 displaced. Temperatures have settled since then, although many of the ethnic divisions which led to the violence still exist. It is important to realise that expats are not specifically targeted by this violence, but nonetheless, political demonstrations can often turn heated, and should be avoided.
Expats usually hire security guards for their home, or else live in gated communities or compounds in Kenya. Home robberies are less frequent than car jackings, which are very common, and even bus passengers are sometimes mugged. Some roads going out of the city centre shouldn't be used, but most are well policed. Most muggings do not end in violence, and expats are encouraged not to resist.
The country also faced considerable violence during the election of 2008, which left more than 1,000 people dead and 300,000 displaced. Temperatures have settled since then, although many of the ethnic divisions which led to the violence still exist. It is important to realise that expats are not specifically targeted by this violence, but nonetheless, political demonstrations can often turn heated, and should be avoided.
