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Kenya Travel Guide
"Here you will find the most important information about Kenya"
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Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides shelter to approximately a quarter of a million refugees including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels; Kenya's administrative limits extend beyond the treaty border into the Sudan, creating the Ilemi Triangle.
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Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence until his death in 1978, when President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991.
The ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud, but are viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December of 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition, defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.
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| HEALTH |
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Special Precautions |
Certificate Required? |
| Yellow Fever |
Yes |
1 |
| Cholera |
Yes |
2 |
| Typhoid and Polio |
3 |
N/A |
| Malaria |
4 |
N/A |
1
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas; those countries formerly classified as endemic zones are considered to be still infected by the Kenyan authorities. Travelers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.
2
Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Kenya. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness.
3
Immunization against typhoid and poliomyelitis is recommended.
4
Malaria risk exists throughout the year in the whole country. There is usually less risk in Nairobi and in the highlands (above 2500m/8200ft) of the Central, Eastern Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western Provinces. The predominant falciparum strain has been reported as highly resistant to chloroquine and resistant to sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine. Mefloquine is the recommended prophylaxis.
Food & drink
Mains water is normally chlorinated and relatively safe. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns is likely to be contaminated and sterilization is considered essential. Milk is pasteurized and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.
Other risks
Dysenteries and diarrhoeal diseases are common. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic; hepatitis A and E are widespread. Meningococcal meningitis is a risk, particularly in the savannah in the dry season; long-staying visitors and backpackers should consider vaccination. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Dengue fever is present, as are leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and filariasis. Avoid sandfly, mosquito and tsetse fly bites, and wear shoes to protect against hookworm. Relapsing fever and typhus are present. In June 2004, there were 141 suspected cases, including six deaths, of leptospirosis in a high school in the Bungoma district. A nearby primary school also reported two deaths. Travelers should be aware of these developments when within the Bungoma district.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.
Note:
There is a risk of contracting AIDS if the necessary precautions are not taken. It is advisable to take a kit of sterilized syringe needles for any possible injections needed, as well as drip needles for emergencies.
Health care
Health insurance is essential. East African Flying Doctor Services have introduced a special Tourist Membership which guarantees that any member injured or ill while on safari can call on a flying doctor for free air transport. There are good medical facilities in Mombasa and Nairobi. The Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) safety communication center (24 hour) help tourists in difficulty (tel: (20) 604 767; |
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