Friday's Update from the US Embassy-Nairobi

U.S. Embassy Nairobi
Warden Message
January 4, 2008

This Warden Message is being issued to alert American citizens to the security situation following disputed elections in Kenya. U.S. citizens should strongly consider the risks of travel to Kenya at this time. The situation in Kenya continues to be volatile and subject to frequent change. There continues to be incidences of violence, demonstrations, and looting in several neighborhoods of Nairobi and Mombasa and in large parts of the western-most provinces.

Although the security situation is improving, Americans in Kenya can expect interrupted flights, a large police presence in the troubled areas; food shortages; cash shortages at banks and ATMs; and sporadic telephone, cell phone and Internet service. U.S. citizens should monitor U.S. Embassy Nairobi’s website at http://kenya.usembassy.gov for the latest information.
Events intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. American citizens should avoid public rallies and large gatherings, and should always carry a mobile phone or other means of communication. American citizens should continue to exercise caution when traveling throughout Kenya, particularly in Nairobi’s city center. Main thoroughfares and alternate routes are subject to closure with little or no warning and travelers must always remain vigilant regarding their personal security situation.

U.S. Peace Corps volunteers, who are private U.S. citizens, have temporarily relocated from the Kenyan towns of Busia, Kisumu, Kericho, and Kakamega to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. American citizens residing in Kenya should carefully assess their own safety and security situations to determine whether to remain, or risk travel to alternative sites within or outside Kenya.
The Consular Section at the US Embassy in Nairobi will be closed to the public on Friday, January 4. The Embassy will reassess the security situation on Monday, January 7, but plans to re-open for normal public operation at this time. Updated security information will be available at http://kenya.usembassy.gov and at http://travel.state.gov.

Americans living or traveling in Kenya are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ to obtain updated information on travel and security within Kenya. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.

The U.S Embassy is located on United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya; telephone (254) (20) 363-6000; fax (254)(20) 363-6410. In the event of an after-hours emergency, the Embassy duty officer may be contacted at (254) (20) 363-6170. The Embassy's international mailing address is P.O. Box 606, Village Market 00621, Nairobi, Kenya. Mail using U.S. domestic postage may be addressed to Unit 64100, APO AE 09831. The Embassy home page is http://kenya.usembassy.gov.