NAIROBI, Kenya — The German Federal Foreign Office has issued a fresh travel and safety advisory cautioning its citizens living in or visiting Kenya over a heightened risk of terrorist attacks, especially in crowded public spaces.
The advisory, released on October 14, 2025, highlights vulnerabilities in areas such as hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, transport hubs, and places of worship.
It notes that Al-Shabaab, operating from Somalia, has threatened retaliatory actions in response to Kenya’s participation in the AUSSOM (formerly ATMIS) mission.
Germany’s advisory lists several areas across Baringo, Laikipia, Samburu, Turkana, and West Pokot as risky for travel, naming sites such as Korkoron Hills, Tandare Valley, Silale Gorges, Mukogodo Forest, and Pura Valley, among others.
The advisory also warns against non-essential travel near the Somali border, especially in Lamu County, which is flagged as a hotspot for terrorist activity. For coastal regions, remote areas, and secondary transport routes, it urges extra caution and recommends using guarded convoys where possible.
In Nairobi and Mombasa, the advisory cautions against night travel in informal settlements and certain neighbourhoods like Eastleigh and Pangani, and advises visiting Mombasa’s Old Town only during daylight and with someone familiar with the area.
German citizens are urged to:
- Stay alert in crowded locations, avoid large gatherings, and monitor local media for security updates.
- Use cashless payments and carry minimal cash or valuables.
- Secure official documents, keep identity papers hidden, and travel with adequate protective arrangements in high-risk regions.
- Avoid unnecessary travel to remote and border areas, or use guarded convoys if travel is essential.
This advisory follows growing concerns over security threats in Kenya, particularly in border areas where militant cross-border activities have been reported.
Germany’s warning echoes similar travel advisories from other nations, reflecting increasingly cautious stances toward movement in certain parts of Kenya.
For tourists, expatriates, and residents — especially those in remote or border regions — heightened vigilance is now more critical than ever.
