UK Foreign Office updates Kenya travel advice for border regions and eastern coast
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office updated its travel advice for Kenya on 30 October 2026. The department maintains warnings against all travel, or all but essential travel, to parts of eastern and northern Kenya due to the risk of terrorism from groups based in Somalia. Specifically, the office warns against all travel to Mandera County, parts of Wajir and Garissa counties, and Lamu County, excluding Lamu Island and Manda Island. It also advises against all travel within 60km of the Somalia border. For travellers, these official warnings carry direct financial consequences. Travelling to an area against government advice can invalidate standard travel insurance policies, leaving individuals personally responsible for emergency expenses or rescue costs. The update also includes revised details concerning the Kenya-Ethiopia border on its regional risks page, helping travellers review safety conditions before making plans.
What was announced
On 30 October 2026, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issued an update to its travel advice for Kenya. The update provides revised information regarding the Kenya-Ethiopia border under its regional risks section.
The department advises against all travel to several eastern areas because of terrorism risks linked to groups in Somalia. Restricted zones include Mandera County, most of Lamu County except Lamu Island and Manda Island, and areas of Wajir County within 60km of the Somalia border. Parts of Wajir County, including Tarbaj and Wajir East constituencies, are under an all-travel warning, though Wajir Town is excluded. Garissa County is also covered by an all-travel warning, except Garissa Town, Lagdera constituency, and specific areas of Balambala constituency.
The department advises against all but essential travel to Garissa Town, Tana River County north of the Tana River up to Saka, and areas within 15km of the east coast between the Tana River and the Galana River.
What it means
Travellers planning visits to Kenya must check their itineraries against the specific county and border boundaries set by the FCDO. Going to a zone marked as unsafe by the office can cancel travel insurance policies. If a policy becomes invalid, insurance companies may refuse to pay for emergency medical care, trip cancellations, or evacuation expenses.
Some locations within restricted counties remain exempt from the stricter warnings. For instance, tourists can still visit Lamu Island and Manda Island without violating the directive against all travel. Similarly, Wajir Town and Garissa Town have different safety ratings compared to their surrounding rural zones.
What the announcement does not tell us
The announcement does not state the specific intelligence or recent events that prompted the update to the Kenya-Ethiopia border section. It does not provide an expected end date for any of the active travel warnings.
The text also does not detail how insurance providers treat trips that pass through restricted zones briefly during transit. Travellers must check directly with their insurers to confirm coverage details.
How this was written
This analysis was written with AI from the official announcement below, using only facts that announcement states. The quoted wording is UK FCDO Foreign Travel Advice’s own. Always check the original before acting on anything here.
Updated information about the Kenya-Ethiopia border (‘Regional risks’ page).
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