Hotel & Logistics

The Government of Kenya has amended their visa regulation in January 2024 by introducing the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) where all foreign nationals traveling to Kenya are required to complete the eTA prior to travel to Kenya. 

All Participants are required to apply for a visa through the eTA portal (https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en/evisa.html) and submit their online application prior to travel to Kenya. Applications currently cost $34 USD. Please note that all documents and photos must be uploaded in JPEG format. 

Travelers can submit their applications up to 3 months prior to travel and must apply at the latest 7 days prior to travel to ensure adequate time for processing and issuance of the eTA. 

Information on eTA requirements can be found on the web site of the Directorate of Immigration & Citizen Services of the Ministry of the Interior and National Administration of the Government of the Republic of Kenya at the following link: https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en/evisa.html 

Yellow Fever Vaccination is a requirement for entry to Kenya. If you don’t have the vaccination certificate, please ensure to get vaccinated 10 days prior to your travel and they issue you with a valid certificate. 

Risk of Malaria exists throughout the year in the whole country, including game parks, the city of Nairobi and in the highlands at altitudes above 2,500 m of Central, Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western provinces. 

Please note that tap water is not safe to drink in Kenya, however, bottled water is readily available.

In Nairobi, one must be vigilant, and always remain alert and conscious of your surroundings when going about your activities. The level of crime in Kenya, particularly in Nairobi and other big cities is high. Caution should be exercised always. Crime ranges from petty theft to kidnapping, mobile phone fraud, and carjacking. 

Some precautions are as follows: 

• Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists/foreigners 

• Keep your passport, traveler’s cheques, excess money and any other valuables to be locked in the hotel’s safe 

• Always carry a copy of your passport and visa (if applicable) 

• Do not walk on your own at night in the major cities 

• Do not carry a lot of cash with you or wear expensive jewelery 

• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt 

• Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans 

• Make contingency plans to leave the country in the event of an emergency 

Avoid travel in the areas within 100 kms of the following borders: Somalia, Ethiopia and South Sudan. 

For more specific security advice both before and during the meeting, please check your national Foreign Office travel advisory for Kenya.

❖ All major forms of credit cards are accepted in Kenya. Banks and Bureau de Change are available at the airport and in most shopping malls. 

❖ Banks are open in general from Monday to Friday between 0090 hrs and 1600 hrs, and Saturdays between 0900 hrs and 1200 hrs. Kindly note that banks are closed on Sundays and public holidays. ATMs with multinational financial services are available in most of the shopping malls. 

❖The voltage in Kenya is 220 – 240 volts. The sockets require a 3 square pin plug. 

❖ The official language of the forum is English and French. 

❖ Nairobi is generally a safe city. However, like in any other country, reasonable precautions should be taken. Avoid walking alone at night and lock your valuables in your hotel safe. We will provide a security brief for the forum. 

❖ Weather: The average temperature in Nairobi is 18ºC in December, with highs of 23ºC and lows of 12ºC. 

❖ Local time: The time zone in Nairobi is GMT+3 

Email: gdhf@techchange.org