Is Nairobi Safe in January 2026?

Fraudsters send a convincingly fake M-Pesa confirmation SMS to tourists who have sold goods, rented equipment, or agreed to pay for services, claiming that funds have been transferred to your number. The message replicates the official Safaricom M-Pesa sender ID and format precisely. The scammer then demands the goods or service before the victim checks their actual M-Pesa balance and discovers no transfer was made. In 2024, M-Pesa fraud losses in Kenya surged to Ksh 810 million, a 344% increase, with fake confirmation messages one of the primary methods used.

How to avoid: Always open your M-Pesa app and check your actual account balance before releasing goods or services — do not rely on an SMS notification alone. If someone claims to have sent money, verify it shows in your transaction history, not just as an incoming text.

Unlicensed taxis at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport charge tourists KSh 3,000–6,000 for journeys to the city centre; the regulated fare is around KSh 1,500–2,000.

How to avoid: Use the official Kenya Airports Authority taxi service or a pre-booked hotel transfer. Uber operates at JKIA and is significantly cheaper.

Since Kenya replaced its visa system with the mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) on January 1, 2024, dozens of fraudulent websites have appeared that closely mimic the official government portal at etakenya.go.ke. These fake sites charge tourists processing fees of USD 30–150 for an eTA that may never arrive, or may arrive as an unofficial document that is rejected at immigration. The Kenyan government, crisis monitoring services, and multiple tour operators have publicly warned about this scam, which proliferates through paid search ads targeting tourists searching for the application form.

How to avoid: Apply for your Kenya eTA only through the official government website: etakenya.go.ke. Bookmark this URL directly rather than searching for it each time. If you find a site through a search engine advertisement, verify the exact URL before entering any personal or payment details — the official site has a .go.ke government domain, not .com, .org, or any other extension.

Tour operators in Nairobi ranging from street touts on River Road to agents near upmarket hotels advertise heavily discounted Masai Mara and Amboseli safaris. After collecting full or partial payment — often via M-Pesa — tourists find the vehicle is broken down on departure day, the lodge is nothing like the photos, a \\\"guide\\\" abandons them mid-safari, or the operator simply disappears. Multiple tourist complaints filed with the Kenya Tourism Board in 2024–2025 follow this exact pattern. Budget versions target backpackers with prices well below KATO-licensed operator rates; smarter operators use professional-looking websites and fake five-star review clusters.

How to avoid: Book safaris only with Kenya Tourism Board-licensed operators. Check reviews on SafariBookings.com and TripAdvisor dated within 6 months. Ask for the specific vehicle and lodge name, and verify they exist independently.

Criminals in Nairobi's nightlife areas target tourists by spiking drinks with sedatives, typically at bars and clubs along Westlands Road and in the Kilimani district. Once incapacitated, victims are robbed of cash, phones, and bank cards, sometimes transported to ATMs and coerced into making withdrawals. The UK Foreign Office and US State Department both flag this as a growing risk in Nairobi's upmarket entertainment zones.

How to avoid: Never leave a drink unattended or accept drinks from strangers in bars or clubs. Stick to drinks you watch being poured at the bar. If you feel suddenly dizzy or confused, alert bar staff and contact your hotel or a trusted contact immediately.