Emergency Information

There is a lot of risk in travel. You can be taken ill or involved in accidents anywhere in the world. You will need emergency information contacts after experiencing a medical problem whilst travelling to Kenya. Those who find themselves in an emergency crisis overseas are not always in the best position to control their situation. You will need some or all of the emergency information provided here.

Telephone Operator Service:
Dial 900

Telephone Service Enquiries:
All Enquiries: Dial 900
To make a directory enquiry: Dial 991
Time announcement (English): Dial 993
Time announcement (Kiswahili): Dial 994
To call the operator: Dial 900
International service: Dial 0196
To dictate a telegram: Dial 990
Customer care, sales & billing: Dial 980

Emergency Contact Numbers:
Police,
Fire,
Ambulance : Dial 999 (Wherever you may be with access to a landline or mobile phone)

Police Hotline and Emergency Numbers:
All Emergency’s: Dial 999
Police Headquarters: Dial (+254)-02-717777/240000
Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D): Dial (+254)-02-728888

Airport Service Numbers:
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (J.K.I.A): Dial (+254)-02-822111
Wilson Airport: Dial (+254)-02-501943

General Information about Nairobi

Airport
The major airport is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which is about 30 min away from the city centre. Within the airport is the Duty Free complex, which has a variety of shops stocking the usual fare, gift items and souvenirs. The shops accept US dollars, GB pounds and Kenya Shilling. The airport has plenty of taxis that will connect you to anywhere within the city.

JKIA is the hub of Kenya Airways -'African airline of the year'. Kenya Airways has an extensive national, regional and international network. The airline has a modern fleet and its services meet global standards. Get more info at: www.kenya-airways.com.

The Kenya Airport Authority is responsible for the management and security of the country's airports. KAA has an information desk at the arrivals terminal. Preview info on KAA at: www.kenyaairports.co.ke.

The Wilson Airport, 11 km from the city centre is a secondary airport servicing domestic and regional destinations on scheduled or chartered basis. If you are flying on safari, this is where you will most likely depart from.

Banking and Money
Banks in Kenya operate from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm on weekdays and 9.00 to 11.00 am on the first and last Saturday of each month. Major currencies such as US dollars and Euro and travellers cheques can be converted at major hotels, banks and forex Bureaus. You will get best exchange rates for cash or travellers cheques if you are dealing in US dollars, Euro or Pound Sterling.

For this, your best deal will be at forexbureaus. Avoid changing money in the streets however favourable the exchange rate may appear. Some banks and forex bureaus at the airport are open for open 24 hours.

Visa and MasterCard have wide acceptance: American Express, Diners and other cards have more limited acceptance. Your Visa card can access your bank or credit card account through any Standard Chartered Bank dispenser, 24 hours a day.

Health Regulations
Travellers from a number of countries require yellow fever vaccination certificates. Persons checked are those originating or having transited through these countries.

Visas
Passports valid for at least 3 months from date of entry are required of all visitors.All visitors require a visa except for citizens of the republic of Ireland and some commonwealth countries.

There are exceptions with varying conditions for commonwealth citizens of Antigua, Bermuda, Guyana, India, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Ethiopia, San Marino, Turkey, Eritrea, Uruguay and South Africa (for visitors staying more than 30 days).

Airport visas are available although this may result in delays upon arrival. It is advisable to obtain visa's in advance from Kenyan Embassies and High Commissions as some airlines may require it before allowing you on board. In the absence of the Kenyan Embassy or High Commission, visas can be obtained from a destination country’s Embassy, Consulate or High Commissions.

Be advised that visa requirements vary from time to time. There is a fee payable for all visas.

Visa applications for nationals of the following countries can only approved by Kenyan authorities prior to arrival:

Afghanistan, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equador, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda Senegal, Somalia, Stateless persons, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan and Yemen.

For more info and contacts for Kenyan Embassies and High Commissions, see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.mfa.go.ke.

For online visa application visit: www.mfa.go.ke/visa.pdf

For information on customs procedure visit Kenya Revenue Authority: www.kra.go.ke

Getting Around

Nairobi is Kenya's transport centre; from here you can connect to anywhere in the country. The Nairobi city centre is small- only 1 sq km, and if you are fit you can get around of foot. But taxis are widely available on the streets and at major hotels. They are usually marked with a yellow line. Taxis here are not metered and to avoid surprises, it is best to negotiate charges beforehand. You can also request for one of the Dial a Taxi services from your hotel. In this case, they will have a standard fixed rate for your destination.

Public transport in the city is provided by buses and shared taxis- locally referred to as matatu. You purchase your ticket onboard.

Rental cars are reliably available - go online at www.africapoint.com/cars/kenya.htm Remember that driving is on the left. Railway services are available and connect the city to other cities - like Kisumu and Mombasa and towns in between.

Communication
You will find phone, fax and Internet facilities in the city's cyber cafés and hotels. International direct dialling to many countries is available; some of the major hotels have broadband Internet services. Telkom Kenya is the sole fixed line operator and has got the most cost effective international calling VoIP rates. Hotels offer phone and fax services to guests.

Nairobi's dialling code is 020; Kenya's 254. Public payphones are on hand, coins or phone cards are needed to make calls; the latter is available in fixed denominations. Privately run telephone bureaus also offer phone/ fax services at reasonable charges.

Cellular services are offered by three providers –Airtel, Safaricom and Orange. All networks have many distribution outlets from the airport and throughout the city where you can buy a GSM card and recharge cards for your mobile phone that will allow you to make international calls to any country. For more info on Airtel go to: www.celtel.com. For more info on Safaricom go to www.safaricom.com

To check a listed Nairobi telephone number, go to: www.yellowpageskenya.com.

Health and Emergency Services
Nairobi is well served with excellent hospitals, health facilities and chemists. The leading hospitals are the Nairobi hospital, The Aga-Khan, Mater Misericordia and M.P Shah hospitals. HIV-AIDS is prevalent in the city; prudent measures are called for.

The emergency number for fire, police or ambulance services is 999.

Foreign Embassies
Kenya is a regional diplomatic centre and over 70 foreign countries have representation. Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for info on their locations and contacts in Nairobi: www.mfa.go.ke. The offices of the Foreign Ministry are located on Harambee Avenue in the city centre and are open five days a week. The protocol office is always ready to assist travellers.

Security Information
Security anywhere should be taken seriously and likewise in Nairobi. Important documents and valuables should be kept safely. Some parts of the city are not considered safe for walking, especially at night -get local advise. If you take the common sense precautions you would take in any big city, you will be OK. The security situation in Nairobi has greatly improved as a result of recent efforts by the authorities.

There are police stations all around the city and police officers on constant patrol. There is a special Tourist Police unit, on a 24-hour call on 20 2724501 or 2727844 within Nairobi.

Weather
The weather in Nairobi pleasant year round, with temperatures averaging 21 degrees C. The rains come around April- May and November-December. Light clothing is generally recommended, except in the evenings when you may need a sweater or jacket.

Average Min/Max temperatures in Degrees Centigrades for the month of January for Nairobi are 14/26.