Updated on 9 September 2026 ·
source checked daily
Kenya — official level as of 9 September 2026: Level 2/4 ("Exercise Increased Caution"), from the U.S. Department of State. Maximum Insurance covers this country: hospital settled directly, unlimited repatriation, CHF 1.5M, certificate on payment.
Four official readings
United StatesState Departmentsource ↗Our reference level — the one shown across this site
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
Level 2/4 — “Exercise Increased Caution”levels 1 and 2 are advice to be careful, not travel restrictions
FranceFrance Diplomatiesource ↗Added on top of the U.S. level, under its own rules: red or orange AREAS
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country+ red areas
our reading: some areas are classified red (formally advised against)
United KingdomFCDOsource ↗Added on top of the U.S. level, under its own rules: travel statuses
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country+ parts of the country
our reading: all travel advised against to parts of the country · all but essential travel advised against to parts of the country
source reviewed 24 June 2026
SwitzerlandFDFAsource ↗Advisory cited by the Maximum policy
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country+ parts of the country
our reading: Switzerland’s FDFA advises against travel to certain regions
advice published 13.05.2026
The four readings on record agree: no restriction on the whole country — France still flags red areas; the United Kingdom still flags parts of the country; Switzerland still flags parts of the country.Our comparison reading: 22 August 2026
Every country has its own scale, so we ask them all the same question: is the whole country advised against?
An advisory covering only areas of the country does not raise the answer: it stays “No”, and the area is shown in the relevant column.
The level shown on this page — and across this site — is the one published by the U.S. State Department, from 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). France and the United Kingdom publish their own advisories, with their own rules: they add to that level, they do not replace it.
10 recorded incidents (UCDP)hover, click to open it in the briefing
Level 2/4 — Exercise Increased Caution
Checked on 9 September 2026 · U.S. State Department
Observed repatriation
40 000 € – 120 000 €
Country briefing
Get the PDF
The comparator
What is your current insurance?
The verdict
No area exclusion at this level — but three written limits: deductible and prior approval, 90-day cap, advance under conditions.
Exact wording (official French text): « Des Voyages vers des pays où Votre gouvernement a conseillé de ne pas voyager » — general exclusion n° 11, applying to ALL travel covers.
Travelling only once? Below three trips a year, this contract is probably not for you.
Where, exactly?
What the national level does not tell you
The level is national. Risk areas are in the state advisories below.
U.S. State Department — the full advisory details the regions concerned and the reasons (crime, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest)
(read the advisory)
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (United Kingdom) — the United Kingdom advises against all travel to PARTS of the country and advises against all but essential travel to parts · reviewed 4 September 2026 Last announced change : « Removed information about industrial action ('Warnings and insurance' page) » (read the advisory)
France Diplomatie — France classifies SOME AREAS of the country as red (travel formally advised against) — the advisory is geographic, check it for your exact destination (read the Security advisory)
No major event in progress is located in this country at this morning's check.
What happened, and where
Over 1 January 2026 → 30 June 2026, UCDP (Uppsala University) recorded 10 geolocated violent incidents in this country, for 3 documented deaths.
Most affected areas Garissa county 8 · Mandera county 1 · Tana River county 1
Most recent incidents
28 June 2026 · Garissa county · Fafi town Al-Shabab claims attacking troops in Kenya's Garrissa county;Al-Shabab claims 'killing four' Kenyan soldiers in Garissa attacksSource: BBC Monitoring News Alert;BBC Monitoring News Alert · 28 June 2026 · al-Shabab · UCDP #634585 ↗
8 June 2026 · Mandera county · El Wak town Two Killed in Suspected Somalia Militia Attack in Mandera;North-east Kenya town on edge after deadly cross-border attack · 1 deathSource: AllAfrica;BBC Monitoring News Alert · 9 June 2026 · privately-owned news site Eastleigh Voice; police · UCDP #634487 ↗
25 May 2026 · Garissa county · Dadaab town Al-Shabab kills four Kenyan soldiers near northeastern townSource: BBC Monitoring News Alert · 26 May 2026 · al-Shabab · UCDP #631161 ↗
1 April 2026 · Garissa county · Fafi town Al-Shabab claims attacks on Kenyan forces in north-eastSource: BBC Monitoring News Alert · 2 April 2026 · al-Shabab · UCDP #628138 ↗
3 March 2026 · Tana River county · Bura town Al-Shabab 'kills Kenyan soldiers in ambush' near northern countySource: BBC Monitoring News Alert · 5 March 2026 · al-Shabab · UCDP #623901 ↗
8 February 2026 · Garissa county · Garissa town Al-Shabab 'kills three Kenyan soldiers' in north-east county
CR Source: Radio Andalus in Somali 1700 GMT 8 Feb 26Source: BBC Monitoring News Alert · 9 February 2026 · al-Shabaab · UCDP #620946 ↗
Source: UCDP Georeferenced Event Dataset (Uppsala Conflict Data Program), file GEDEvent_v26_01_26_06.csv, CC BY 4.0 licence. We keep only incidents UCDP codes as "Clear" and whose location is precise enough to be placed — about 58% of the dataset. An incident may be revised, moved or withdrawn by UCDP in a later release: these figures describe a closed period, not a live situation.
What we do locate on the map are events in progress — earthquakes and disasters reported by USGS and GDACS (UN / European Commission), which do have real coordinates. Hover a dot for details, click to open it in this briefing.
What is happening in Kenya right now
Live alerts and level changes, each with its official source. Continuously updated.
No level change recorded for this country since the log opened. The live alerts above are updated continuously.
Hospitals with emergency rooms, nearest evacuation airport and live alerts — public data (OpenStreetMap, GDACS), computed live. In an emergency, one reflex: +41 22 ••• •• ••.
Frequently asked questions — travel insurance Kenya
What is the official risk level in Kenya today?
Level 2/4 ("Exercise Increased Caution") according to the U.S. Department of State, retrieved on 9 September 2026. Maximum Insurance checks this official source every day.
What does Maximum Insurance do in Kenya?
The Pack VIP ($990 for twelve months, unlimited trips) covers CHF 1.5M emergency medical expenses, unlimited evacuation and repatriation, the direct payment guarantee in hospital, and a nominative certificate in the format visa applications require, Schengen included. The Pack VIP Extreme adds crisis management & security and Kidnap & Ransom (subject to eligibility).
How much does a medical repatriation from Kenya cost?
Observed costs range from 40 000 € to 120 000 € depending on severity and distance (SkyCare (ambulance aérienne), 2025). The Pack VIP covers evacuation and medical repatriation without cap, settled directly by the insurer.
Do I need an insurance certificate for a Kenya visa?
Many consulates require proof of international medical cover before issuing a visa — Schengen included for non-European travellers. Maximum Insurance issues the official named certificate on payment, accepted for these procedures.
What should I do if hospitalised in Kenya?
One reflex: call +41 22 ••• •• •• (24/7). Within our worldwide medical network — 45,000 medical providers — the insurer sends its direct payment guarantee: the hospital is settled directly, no deposit advanced by the traveller.
Is an Amex, Visa or Mastercard enough in Kenya?
These are travel-insurance options, with a public notice. At level 4/4 (Do Not Travel), several notices rule the trip out (Amex, exclusion no. 11; Mastercard Fortuneo, art. 5.5). Below that, the area exclusion generally does not apply — 90 days max, reimbursement afterwards, no visa certificate remain. The VIP Pack runs 12 months, pays the hospital, and issues the certificate on payment.
Are a health plan or a travel policy enough in Kenya?
A health plan treats you at home: the hospital here asks for a guarantee before admission. A travel policy has its own terms — often a territorial clause at level 4/4, and 90 days. Without the document (IPID number or PDF), we cannot say. Ask a Maximum Insurance expert to call you back.
Travelling to Nairobi, Mombasa: what changes
The published advisory level is national, but risk is not: business hubs (Nairobi, Mombasa) do not share the profile of border areas. The medical network shown on this page is computed around Nairobi — real hospitals, evacuation airport and live alerts. Before a specific trip, always cross-check your country of residence's advisory: that is what your policy cites.
The displayed level comes from the State Department, checked every morning. Before departure, always cross-check your country of residence's advisory: that is what your policy cites.
The level shown is the official U.S. Department of State level, checked daily. Maximum Insurance is an insurance distributor — general information, not personal advice.