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Cars 4 Rental Information on Kenya

General

Area: 580,367 sq km (224,081 sq miles).

Population: 30,493,792 (official estimate 2001).

Population Density: 52.5 per sq km.

Capital: Nairobi. Population: 2,143,020 (1999).

GEOGRAPHY: Kenya shares borders with Ethiopia in the north, Sudan in the northwest, Uganda in the west, Tanzania in the south and Somalia in the northeast. To the east lies the Indian Ocean. The country is divided into four regions: the arid deserts of the north; the savannah lands of the south; the fertile lowlands along the coast and around the shores of Lake Victoria; and highlands in the west, where the capital Nairobi is situated. Northwest of Nairobi runs the Rift Valley, containing the town of Nakuru and Aberdare National Park, overlooked by Mount Kenya (5200m/17,000ft), which also has a national park. In the far northwest is Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolph). Kenya is a multicultural society; in the north live Somalis and the nomadic Hamitic peoples (Rendille, Samburu and Turkana), in the south and eastern lowlands are Kamba and Masai and the Luo live around Lake Victoria. The largest group is the Kikuyu who live in the central highlands and have traditionally been dominant in commerce and politics, although this is now changing. There are many other smaller groups and although Kenya emphasises nationalism, tribal and cultural identity is a factor. A small European settler population remains in the highlands, involved in farming and commerce.

Government: Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1963. Head of State and Government: President Emilio Mwai Kibaki since December 2002.

Language: Swahili is the national language and English is the official language. There are over 42 ethnic languages spoken, including Kikuyu and Luo.

Religion: Mostly traditional but there is a sizeable Christian population (both Catholic and Protestant) and a small Muslim community.

Time: GMT + 3 (Winter), GMT + 2 (Summer).

Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are UK-type square three-pin. Bayonet-type light sockets exist in Kenya.

Communications:

Telephone

IDD service is available to the main cities. Country code: 254 (followed by 2 for Nairobi, 11 for Mombasa and 37 for Nakuru). Outgoing international code: 000. International calls can sometimes be made direct or operator-assisted by dialling 0196. Public telephones work with coins or with phone cards (which may be purchased from post offices or from international call services in major towns); coin-operated phone booths are painted red, card-operated booths are painted blue. Major hotels also offer a phone service, but they usually charge up to 100 per cent more. For local calls, it is useful to have plenty of small change available.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900. The main network providers are KenCell (website: www.kencell.co.ke) and Safaricom (website: www.safaricom.co.ke).

Fax

This service is available to the public at the Main Post Office, the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, and at major hotels.

Telegram

Overseas telegrams can be sent from all post and telegraphic offices and private telephones. Nairobi GPO is open 24 hours.

Internet

There are over 30 ISPs in Kenya: JamboNet and 19 of the other ISPs belong to The East African Internet Association. There are Internet cafes in major cities and hotels.

Post

Post Offices are identified by Telkom Kenya (Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corporation). Post boxes are red. Stamps can usually be bought at post offices, stationers, souvenir shops and hotels. Airmail to Western Europe takes up to four days, and the service is generally reliable. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0900-1200 (main post offices).

Press

The main dailies (all published in English) include Daily Nation, The East African Standard, Kenya Times and The People. Nairobi is the main publishing centre.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KSh) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of KSh1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of KSh20, 10 and 5.

Currency exchange: Currency can be exchanged at the major banks. There are over 140 ATMs. Barclays has the largest network, with more than 65 ATMs located in Nairobi and Mombasa and all other major towns. Standard Chartered Bank’s computerised network allows access to 62 ATMs countrywide. International visitors with Visa cards can access their own bank or credit card account through any Standard Chartered dispenser, 24 hours a day.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all widely accepted. Major hotels now also accept payment by credit card, as do major safari companies, travel agencies and restaurants. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: These can be changed at banks, and are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Currency restrictions: There is no restriction on the import and export of local or foreign currency. However, authorisation from the Central Bank is required for amounts of 500,000 KSh and above.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Kenyan Shilling against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 Aug ’04
£1.00= 132.31 139.34 140.57 149.13
$1.00= 77.97 76.50 78.70 80.95

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500; 0900-1100 on the first and last Saturday of each month. National and international banks have branches in Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, Thika, Eldoret, Kericho, Nyeri and in most other major towns. Banks in Mombasa and the coastal areas open and close half an hour earlier. Many of the banks and bureaux de change at the international airports open 24 hours every day.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever Yes 1
Cholera Yes 2
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria 4 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas; those countries formerly classified as endemic zones are considered to be still infected by the Kenyan authorities. Travellers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Kenya. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness; see the Health appendix for further information.

3: Immunisation against typhoid and poliomyelitis is recommended.

4: Malaria risk exists throughout the year in the whole country. There is usually less risk in Nairobi and in the highlands (above 2500m/8200ft) of the Central, Eastern Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western Provinces. The predominant falciparum strain has been reported as highly resistant to chloroquine and resistant to sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine. Mefloquine is the recommended prophylaxis.

Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated and relatively safe. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns is likely to be contaminated and sterilisation is considered essential. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.

Other risks: Dysenteries and diarrhoeal diseases are common. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic; hepatitis A and E are widespread. Meningococcal meningitis is a risk, particularly in the savannah in the dry season; long-staying visitors and backpackers should consider vaccination. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Dengue fever is present, as are leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and filariasis. Avoid sandfly, mosquito and tsetse fly bites, and wear shoes to protect against hookworm. Relapsing fever and typhus are present. In June 2004, there were 141 suspected cases, including six deaths, of Leptospirosis in a high school in the Bungoma district. A nearby primary school also reported two deaths. Travellers should be aware of these developments when within the Bungoma district.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. See the Health appendix for further information.

Note: There is a risk of contracting AIDS if the necessary precautions are not taken. It is advisable to take a kit of sterilised syringe needles for any possible injections needed, as well as drip needles for emergencies.

Health care: Health insurance is essential. East African Flying Doctor Services have introduced a special Tourist Membership which guarantees that any member injured or ill while on safari can call on a flying doctor for free air transport. There are good medical facilities in Mombasa and Nairobi. The Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) safety communication centre (24 hour) help tourists in difficulty (tel: (20) 604 767; e-mail: safetour@wananchi.com).

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Climate

The coastal areas are tropical, but tempered by monsoon winds. The lowlands are hot but mainly dry, while the highlands are more temperate with four seasons. Nairobi has a very pleasant climate throughout the year due to its altitude. Near Lake Victoria, the temperatures are much higher and rainfall can be heavy.

Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens with rainwear are advised for the coast and lakeside. Warmer clothing is needed in June and July and for the cooler mornings on the coast. Lightweights are needed for much of the year in the highlands. Rainwear is advisable between March and June and October and December.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes Yes Yes
Australian Yes Yes Yes
Canadian Yes Yes Yes
USA Yes Yes Yes
OtherEU Yes Yes Yes
Japanese Yes Yes Yes

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for three months from date of entry required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except nationals of the following:
(a) nationals of Commonwealth countries for stays of up to three months except those nationals listed in the chart above, and nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Cameroon, Guyana, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, St Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago who do require a visa;
(b) nationals of Ethiopia, San Marino, Turkey and Uruguay;
(c) nationals of Malaysia if staying less than 30 days;
(d) all holders of a re-entry pass to Kenya;
(e) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Types of visa and cost: Entry (single-entry): £30; (multiple-entry): £60 (for up to one year). Transit: £10.

Validity: Single-entry: up to three months from date of issue; Multiple-entry: up to 12 months from date of issue. Renewals (up to six months) or extensions can be made at Immigration in Nyayo House, Uhuru Highway, Nairobi or at Kisumu and Mombasa. The period of stay in Kenya can be given at the port of entry (maximum three months).

Note: Multiple-entry visas may only be issued to nationals of the United Kingdom.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Completed application form. (c) One passport-size photo. (d) Fee (cheques not accepted: payment by postal order, bank draft, building society cheque, or cash if applying in person). (e) Holiday itinerary or business letter. (f) For postal applications, include a self-addressed stamped and registered envelope for return of passport.

Working days required: Three if applying in person or approximately five for postal applications. The length of time for visa processing depends on whether or not the application has to be referred to Nairobi. Consult Embassy or High Commission.

Note: The following nationals will automatically be referred to the Principal Immigration Officer in Nairobi before a visa can be granted: nationals of Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Korea (Dem Rep), Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Oman, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic.
The following nationals can get a visa on application: Belize, Bangladesh, Georgia, Malta, Rwanda (receives 'gratis') and South Africa.

Temporary residence: Apply to Principal Immigration Officer, PO Box 30191, Nairobi.

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