Health
Reference only, not medical advice. Use safe-water/food habits, wash hands, and avoid untreated freshwater; schistosomiasis is present. Mosquito, tick and sand-fly risks include malaria, dengue/Zika, chikungunya, Rift Valley fever and tick-bite fever; use bite precautions. Heat, strong sun, dusty roads, safari injuries and high elevation on Mt Kenya/central highlands merit planning.
Vaccinations
Consult a doctor or travel clinic, ideally at least 1 month before travel. Be current on routine vaccines, including MMR, polio, Tdap, flu, varicella/shingles as applicable, plus COVID-19. CDC commonly recommends hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid for Kenya; discuss malaria prevention for areas below 2,500 m, rabies for animal/remote exposure, meningococcal vaccine for risk areas in the dry season, and cholera if visiting active-transmission areas. Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for many itineraries but not usually for trips limited to Nairobi, most Coast counties or former North Eastern Province; Kenya requires a yellow-fever certificate for travelers age 1+ arriving from countries with yellow-fever transmission risk, not for direct travel from the United States.
eSIM / connectivity
eSIM is practical in Kenya if your phone is unlocked and eSIM-capable. Local networks include Safaricom, Airtel Kenya and Telkom; Safaricom is the most visible local eSIM option, while Airtel/Telkom availability should be checked at official shops. Travelers can also buy prepaid SIM/data bundles at the airport or carrier stores; passport registration is required. International travel-eSIMs are also common and usually roam on local networks.
Health/vaccine info is reference only, not medical advice — consult a doctor or travel clinic; defer to CDC/WHO and official sources (as of 2026-06-20).