The U.S. Department of State issued a warning of risks of travel to Kenya in light of continuing and recently heightened threats from terrorism and the high rate of violent crime in some areas. The levels of risk vary throughout the country. The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has limited official U.S. government travel to Kenya until the security situation improves. The Embassy will continue to monitor the security situation and provide updates. This replaces the Travel Warning of April 4, 2012, to update information about the current security situation.

The U.S. government continues to receive information about potential terrorist threats aimed at U.S., Western, and Kenyan interests in Kenya. On Sept. 11, a British woman was kidnapped and her husband murdered at a coastal resort near the Kenya-Somali border. The British hostage was released on March 21 after a ransom was paid. In the past year, there have been at least 17 attacks involving grenades or explosive devices in Kenya. At least 48 people died in these attacks, and around 200 people were injured. There were no U.S. citizens among the casualties.

As a result of these recent events and threats, U.S. government employees, contractors, grantees and their dependents are prohibited from traveling to the North Eastern Province, including the cities of El Wak, Wajir, Garissa, Dadaab, Mandera and Liboi. The restrictions do not apply to travelers not associated with the U.S. government.

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