Other Tourist Scams in Nairobi, Kenya
Timeshares, fake police, charity fraud, and miscellaneous scams targeting visitors. Below are the other scams scams reported in Nairobi — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Johannesburg, Accra, and Arusha.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Other Scams Scams
12
Total in Nairobi
How it works
Shops near tourist hotels sell "investment quality" Kenyan gemstones (tsavorite, rubies) to tourists with promises of high resale value abroad. The stones are invariably low quality and impossible to resell at anything approaching the purchase price.
How it works
Police officers at roadblocks occasionally ask tourist vehicle passengers for "chai" (tea money) as an informal bribe, citing invented or minor traffic violations.
How it works
Nairobi's Maasai Market craft fair attracts tourists who face extremely aggressive price negotiations. Sellers sometimes grab items back from tourists who agree to a price then want to reconsider.
See all scams in Nairobi
12 total warnings across all categories