Safest cities in Kenya
24 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Kenya-Somalia border and northern parts of the east coast
- Mandera County
- Tarbaj and Wajir East constituencies in Wajir County, except for Wajir Town
- areas of Wajir County within 60km of Kenya’s border with Somalia
- Garissa County - except for Garissa Town, the constituency of Lagdera and the areas of Balambala constituency which lie north and west of the main road which runs from Saka on the Tana River up to the intersection with the C81 Road
- Lamu County, except for Lamu Island and Manda Island
- Garissa Town
- Tana River County north of the Tana River as far as the town of Saka
- within 15km of the east coast between the Tana River and the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki) River
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in KenyaTerrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Kenya.
- Lamu Island and Manda IslandTravellers to Lamu Island and Manda Island should be particularly vigilant given the close proximity of these islands to the Lamu County mainland. You should only travel to the islands by air to Lamu airport (a civilian airport on Manda Island), and not by road. The only commercial option for air travel to or from Lamu Island and Manda Island is…
- Terrorist kidnapThere is a high threat of terrorist kidnap across Kenya. You should be alert to the heightened threat of terrorist kidnapping targeting westerners, including British nationals. Westerners have been the target of kidnaps in northern counties bordering Somalia and coastal counties. Further kidnaps are very likely.
Political situation
- Protests, demonstrations and strikes are common in Kenya, particularly in Nairobi. These events often cause traffic disruption and can lead to violence. A number of demonstrators have been injured and killed in recent years. The situation could change quickly, especially on key dates, such as anniversaries of previous protests. Stay away from…
Crime
- Protecting your belongingsBag-snatching is common in bus stations, railway stations and airports. Be vigilant and take note of any security advice given by your hotel, employer or your hosts. If you’re attacked, do not resist. Avoid carrying large sums of money or wearing expensive-looking jewellery or watches.
- Vehicle crimeAlways drive with windows closed and doors locked. When driving outside of cities and in remote areas, consider driving in convoy. Avoid driving at night if possible. Carjackers may set up bogus checkpoints. See Transport risks.
- ScamsBeware of thieves posing as police officers or private security guards. It’s a technique used by criminals to take charge of valuables, passports and vehicles and steal them. Always ask for identification.
- Drink and food spikingDo not accept drinks or food from strangers in bars or clubs. Criminals spike drinks to weaken and confuse their victims and then commit theft or sexual assault.
- Methanol poisoningThere has been an increase in cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in popular travel destinations around the world.
- Attacks and sexual assaultSexual assaults are rare, but do happen, and can affect both male and female travellers.
- Social media and dating appsCriminals can use dating apps to identify victims to rob or sexually assault. There has been an increase in criminals targeting LGBT+ travellers in particular. Be cautious when using social media and dating apps. If you decide to meet someone, meet in a well-lit, public place and make sure that someone knows where you are.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDYou 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 codeThe 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 bansIt 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 sentencesIf 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 areasIt is illegal to take photographs of official buildings, including embassies, or at airports. You could be arrested if caught.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-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.
- Wildlife, animal products and souvenirsIt 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.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Game reserves and national parksIf you’re visiting game reserves, use reputable tour operators and arrive at your destination in daylight hours. Do not buy safari tours from touts. Always follow park regulations and advice from wardens.
- Hiking and mountaineeringYou must hire a local guide on certain hikes in Kenya. Be conscious of the risk from wildlife and do not approach wild animals. Make sure your travel insurance covers all your planned activities.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Kenya, see information on driving abroad.
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Nairobi CityFor travel between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Nairobi City, use the Mombasa Road or the Nairobi Expressway. There is a higher risk of carjacking on the old airport road (Airport South Road) and Jogoo Road.
- Travel in remote areasMonitor local media and take care in all remote areas. The Kenya Tourism Federation Safety and Communication Center provides tourist advice and emergency help.
- Bus travelThere have been serious accidents involving long-distance buses and minibuses (‘matatus’). The accidents are often due to poor maintenance and speeding. Often minibuses are uninsured. Check operators’ safety standards.
- Driving finesOn-the-spot fines from traffic police are common but illegal. If a traffic police officer stops you, ask them to issue you with the correct paperwork.
- Air travelIf you charter a private aircraft, check with the company about the condition of the aircraft and runways. If the air crew does not include a safety pilot, qualified to take over the controls, find another company that does.
- Rail travelPassenger trains run between Nairobi and Mombasa. Take care of your belongings while on the train and at railway stations. If you leave your compartment, take your valuables with you.
- Sea travelPiracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean remain a significant threat.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- EarthquakesKenya lies on an active fault and tremors occur from time to time. The last significant earthquake to affect the region was of magnitude 5.2 in 2007.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Kenya, updated 2026-09-01 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 4.65 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 38.52022
- Human development
- HDI 0.6282023
- Income
- $6,910/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 28.3 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 43/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 49/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 30/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 6.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.54GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 20.3 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.3 doctors /1k1.3 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 74 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Drought
- 6.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 5.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 3.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 2.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Kenya (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Kenya compares
| Measure | Kenya | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 4.7 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +2.3 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 38.5 | 35.2 | +3.3 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.628 | 0.763 | −0.135 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 28.3 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +12.9 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 49/100 | 52/100 | −3/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 30/100 | 39/100 | −9/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 20.3 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +0.6 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.1/10 | 3.8/10 | +2.3/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Kenya | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 4.7 /100k | 4.4 /100k | +0.2 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 38.5 | 38.3 | +0.3 — better for Africa median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.628 | 0.560 | +0.068 — better for Kenya |
| Road deaths | 28.3 /100k | 27.9 /100k | +0.4 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Rule of law | 49/100 | 42/100 | +7/100 — better for Kenya |
| Corruption perceptions | 30/100 | 31/100 | −1/100 — better for Africa median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 20.3 µg/m³ | 27.7 µg/m³ | −7.4 µg/m³ — better for Kenya |
| Natural-hazard risk | 6.1/10 | 5.2/10 | +0.9/10 — better for Africa median |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 24 cities, safest first
- Mombasa68.6 · #3582 worldwide
- Nakuru63.9 · #4074 worldwide
- Eldoret63.9 · #4075 worldwide
- Kitale63.9 · #4076 worldwide
- Embu63.9 · #4077 worldwide
- Kakamega63.9 · #4078 worldwide
- Meru63.9 · #4079 worldwide
- Kisumu63.6 · #4154 worldwide
- Vihiga63.6 · #4155 worldwide
- Naivasha60.2 · #4422 worldwide
- Thika60.2 · #4423 worldwide
- Mutuati59.1 · #4513 worldwide
- Kisii59.1 · #4514 worldwide
- Wajir59.1 · #4515 worldwide
- Malindi59.1 · #4516 worldwide
- Nairobi58.6 · #4548 worldwide
- Ongata Rongai58.6 · #4549 worldwide
- Kitengela58.6 · #4550 worldwide
- Takaba53.4 · #4990 worldwide
- Hagadera Refugee Camp52.5 · #5055 worldwide
- Dadaab52.5 · #5056 worldwide
- El Wak52.4 · #5057 worldwide
- Garissa52.2 · #5064 worldwide
- Mandera52.1 · #5070 worldwide