Kenya facts,

• Population: 32.8 million (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Nairobi
• Area: 582,646 sq km (224,961 sq miles)
• Major languages: Swahili, English
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 48 years (men), 46 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Kenya shilling = 100 cents
• Main exports: Tea, coffee, horticultural products, petroleum products
• GNI per capita: US $530 (World Bank, 2006)
• Internet domain: .ke
• International dialling code: +254

President: Mwai Kibaki

All incoming visitors to Kenya (except East African Citizens) will now require a visa, irrespective of nationality. Citizens of the following countries need to have a visa prior to arrival in Kenya: Afghanistan, Somali, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Mali, Sudan, Nigeria, Yemen, Cameroon, Pakistan, North Korea, Stateless Persons, Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Senegal
Entry visa costs £30(single-entry); £60 (multiple-entry). Transit visas cost £10.
Note: If the application is referred to Immigration in Nairobi, an additional £7 will be payable.

Single-entry visa is valid for up to three months from date of issue; Multiple-entry is valid for 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). Multiple-entry visas may only be issued to nationals of the United Kingdom.

Processing of a visa can take three (applying in person) or five (postal applications) working days. If the visa has to be referred to Nairobi it will take at least eight weeks.

Visa requirements often change. We advise you to check with your local Kenyan Embassy or Consulate for the latest visa requirements.

Download a Kenya visa form here (PDF)

Download Kenya passport forms here for Kenyan citizens wishing to apply for or renew their passports, travel documents or Emergency Certificates can do so at their nearest Kenya Embassy, High Commission or Consulate immigrationk@kenyahighcommission.net

Kenya High Commission
45 Portland Place, London W1B 1AS, UK
Tel: (020) 7636 2371/5. Fax: (020) 7323 6717.
E-mail: info@kenyahighcommission.net or consular@kenyahighcommission.net (consular section).
Website: www.kenyahighcommission.net
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1200 and 1400-1530.

Kenya Tourist Board, UK
c/o Hills Balfour, Notcutt House, 36 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9EU, UK
Tel: (020) 7202 6373 (dial 1). Fax: (020) 7928 0722.
E-mail: kenya@hillsbalfour.com
Website: www.magicalkenya.com
 

Kenya Embassy
2249 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 387 6101. Fax: (202) 462 3829.
E-mail: info@kenyaembassy.com
Website: www.kenyaembassy.com

Kenya High Commission
415 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R4, Canada
Tel: (613) 563 1773-6. Fax: (613) 233 6599.
E-mail: kenrep@on.aibn.com
Website: www.kenyahighcommission.ca


A full  list of Kenya missions abroad go to statehouse website

Kenya google map

Mombasa on google map

mapquest

map of kenya

Kenya comprises eight provinces each headed by a centrally-appointed Provincial Commissioner, and one area. The provinces (Mikowa) are subdivided into 71 districts (Wilaya) which are then subdivided into 262 divisions (Taarafa). The divisions are then subdivided into approximately 1,088 locations (kata) and then sub location (kata Ndogo). The City of Nairobi enjoys the status of a full administrative province. The government supervises administration of districts and provinces.

 

The provinces (and area) include:

Central
Coast
Eastern
Nairobi Area
North Eastern
Nyanza
Rift Valley
Western


transport in kenya  
 

Matatus are privately operated minibuses, typically for 14 passengers and operating over short and medium distances. Travel by matatu can be risky as the vehicles are sometimes extremely badly driven, with matatu drivers swerving in and out of traffic and stopping at a moment's notice by the side of the road for passengers. Some are poorly maintained but many are to be found in fascinating and colourful decor. Previously matatus were usually packed to well over capacity – up to 25 people in a 14-seater vehicle – but in recent years there has been increased government regulation and policing of matatus especially in the larger cities, such that most matatus now provide seatbelts and do not exceed the vehicle's stated capacity. An unfortunate side-effect of better regulation has been a loss of individuality and character of some of the vehicles, and drivers and conductors are now obliged to wear set uniforms. Tourists should be especially careful that they are wearing the seatbelts provided, unless they wish to find themselves taken on an inconvenient unscheduled trip from a road checkpoint to the police station.

Although most matatus ply their trade along set routes, it is often possible outside of major towns to charter a matatu on the spot as a taxi to your your desired destination – make sure you have categorically confirmed your negotiated price and exact destination before the vehicle goes anywhere, or you may find yourself in the shadier areas of Nairobi at night at the mercy of an indignant matatu driver.

Matatus provide a very cheap and quick method of transport in all the major towns and many rural areas. The name matatu hails from the Kiswahili word for the number three – tatu – because some time ago the standard fare was three ten cent coins.

Airports

Mombasa Moi International Airport (MBA)
The airport is situated eight miles (13km) west of Mombasa. The time is 3 hours ahead of GMT. Contacts: Tel: + 254 011 433211. Public buses go regularly to the city centre, but most travellers take a taxi or arrange to be picked up by their hotel or tour operator. Car rental services include Avis, Europcar and Hertz are represented at the airport. Facilities at the airport are fairly limited by international standards but include left luggage, disabled facilities, first aid, banks, bars, a restaurant, duty-free, a post office, curio shops, tourist information and hotel reservations. The departure tax: US$20, but this is usually included in the ticket price. Website: www.kenyaairports.co.ke

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
The airport is situated 10 miles (16km) south east of Nairobi. The time is 3 hours ahead of GMT. Contacts: Tel: + 254 02522111. The Metro shuttle service 34 leaves fairly regularly for the city centre, most travellers however take a taxi or arrange to be picked up by their hotel or tour operator. The Mercedes taxis take passengers to the central city hotels for a fixed fare. Car rental services include Avis, Europcar and Hertz, among others, are represented at the airport. The facilities at the airport are fairly limited, but include a bank and bureau de change, left luggage, telephones and fax, medical aid, a bar and restaurant, duty-free shops selling curios, a post office, tourist information and hotel reservations. There are disabled facilities, but passengers should advise their airline in advance of any special needs. The departure tax is US$20, but this is usually included in the ticket price. Website: www.kenyaairports.co.ke

Currency

Currency:    1 Kenyan shilling=100 cents
currency converter: yahoo currency converter
Kenyan Shilling (KES) divided into 100 cents. It is not advisable to take Kenyan Shillings out of the country as they are difficult to exchange elsewhere.      To change your currency in Mombasa go to coast forex at fontanella , moi avenue.
Travellers cheques: TCs in Sterling or US Dollars are recommended for your trip to Kenya. US Dollars in particular have become commonly used in many of the country's main hotels and safari lodges. Foreign currency can be changed at banks, bureaux de change and hotels; easiest to exchange are US dollars, pounds sterling or Euro. Street exchange merchants are operating illegally.
Banks : Banks open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm and on the first and last Saturday of the month. Banks and bureaux de change at the international airport stay open 24 hours.
Credit Cards: American Express, Visa and MasterCard are accepted in the larger hotels and stores, and some camps and lodges. ATMs are widely available in Nairobi and the major towns.
 

The media


Daily Nation - published by the Nation Media Group, the paper claims to have three quarters of the Kenyan newspaper market. It is widely regarded as being independent and balanced
East African Standard - privately-owned daily, and Kenya's oldest newspaper
East African - English-language weekly published by the Nation Media Group

Taifa Leo - Kenya's only Swahili-language daily, published by the Nation Media Group

Kenya Times - Kanu party paper, daily

The People Daily - owned by veteran politician Kenneth Matiba
Television


Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) - state-owned, channels in English and Swahili

Metro TV - KBC-operated Nairobi station targeting younger viewers

Kenya Television Network - first TV station to break state broadcasting monopoly; available in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu

Nation TV - Nairobi-based, operated by Nation Media Group

Citizen TV - privately-owned

Stella TV (STV) - privately-owned

Family TV - Christian
Radio


Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) - state-owned, services in English, Swahili and 15 other indigenous languages

Metro FM - national music-based station operated by KBC

Coro FM - KBC-operated Kikuyu-language station in Nairobi

Capital FM - private, music-based
East FM - private, targets Nairobi's Asian listeners

Easy FM - operated by Nation Media Group, relays in Nairobi, Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, Nyeri
Kiss FM - private, music-based

Kameme FM - private, targets Kikuyu speakers in Nairobi and central highlands

Radio Citizen - private, also operates Kikuyu-language Inooro FM and Luo-language Radio Ramogi
Rehema Radio - private, Eldoret-based, programmes in Kalenjin
News agency

Radio Rahma -Mombasa based Fm station.


Kenya News Agency - state-owned, English-language