Kenya - Health
Kenya Health for Visitors
Medical facility standards vary, with urban areas having adequate facilities but potentially being extremely limited in other locations.
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is Kenya’s oldest and largest hospital. It serves as a public tertiary referral hospital for the Ministry of Health.
Nairobi County is home to the largest number of private hospitals in Kenya.
Before receiving treatment, public and private facilities need an up-front payment.
A decompression chamber is available at the Kenyan Naval Base in Mombasa.
If you become seriously ill or injured in a remote area, you’ll need to be evacuated to a major city. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
Medical Insurance is required (suggested min. cover USD$50,ooo). This can be purchased locally for USD$125 a year.
Any person between 1 year of age and 59 years of age needs a yellow fever vaccination (i.e. anybody under 60). A certificate will need to be shown to Port Health on arrival.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases:
Aside from routine vaccinations, it is recommended to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, Measles, Typhoid and Rabies.
In Kenya, poliovirus has been identified in the past year, increasing the risk of exposure for travelers. Vaccination is recommended.
Since October 2022, Kenya’s arid northern region has been affected by a cholera outbreak triggered by the impact of a prolonged and severe drought. Vaccination should be considered for both children and adults traveling to areas with active cholera transmission.
Mosquito-borne Diseases:
Malaria prophylaxis is recommended, as malaria is prevalent on the coast.
Chikungunya virus transmission in Kenya has been observed in the past five years, vaccination may be considered for individuals aged 65 and older and those planning to stay for six months or more.
Dengue, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever, and African tick bite fever are risks in Kenya.
Prevention:
- Use a repellent containing 20%-30% DEET or 20% Picaridin on exposed skin. Re-apply according to the manufacturer’s directions.
- Wear neutral-coloured (beige, light grey) long-sleeved clothing.
- Pre-soak or spray the outer layer of clothing and gear with permethrin.
- Ensure that the hatch and window screens work properly.
Food and Water Concerns:
Tap water is not potable and sealed bottled water is recommended. Avoid ice in drinks. Do not eat food prepared by unlicensed vendors.
Since October 2022, Kenya’s arid northern region has been affected by a cholera outbreak triggered by the impact of a prolonged and severe drought. Vaccination should be considered for both children and adults traveling to areas with active cholera transmission.
Other Concerns:
Do not swim in fresh water, as this may be infected with bilharzia parasites.
AIDS is endemic in East Africa.
Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Kenya.
Prescription Drugs:
Most prescription medication should be available in Kenya.
Medications for personal use – it is recommended to bring the original prescription and the generic names of any medication, as brand names tend to vary from country to country.
Emergency Numbers:
See Emergencies.
The Ministry of Health has a list of Health facilities in Kenya.
Useful link:
Last updated: July 2024
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Formalities: Local Customs
Related to following destinations: Kenya
Country Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - Kenya
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comFormalities
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
Trusted Travel Codes
As of Monday, January 11, all travellers entering or departing Kenya must present a digitally-verified negative COVID-19 test.
Departing travellers: Starting on January 11, 2020, outgoing travellers must obtain a negative COVID-19 certificate in accordance with the trusted Traveller (TT) Initiative (www.africacdc.org/trusted-travel) and the PanaBios system (www.panabios.org).
Travellers who intend to depart Kenya must first visit an authorised laboratory (according to the government of Kenya, all PCR COVID-19 testing laboratories are now part of the TT system), obtain a PCR COVID-19 test with a negative result, and be issued a TT code that be verified by airlines and immigration authorities. The traveller will receive a text message (SMS) from PanaBios as well as an email from the testing laboratory and/or from admin@panabios.org with a link to guide the traveller on how to generate a Travel Code at trustedtravel.panabios.org. If the test results meets Kenya’s exit requirements, a Travel Code is issued to the traveller online.
All COVID-19 testing laboratories, starting on Saturday, January 9, 2021, must use the TT process when issuing COVID-19 testing certificates.
Arriving travelers: The government of Kenya also announced that, starting on January 11, 2021 this new TT electronic verification system will also apply to the negative COVID-19 certificates that are already required for travelers who are entering Kenya; however, details are not available at this time. The Embassy is seeking clarification of this new requirement for incoming travelers and will report any additional information to the U.S. citizen community.
No More Kenya Visa on Arrival to Kenya
Effective January 1, 2021, Kenya has banned all visas on arrival.
You must apply for your visa wall in advance of your intended travel to Kenya. Fortunately you can apply for your visa to Kenya online and the Kenya e-visa costs only US $51 in total to get in about 48 hours.
Click here to apply and create your eCitizen account: http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html