2009 Warden Messages

April 23, 2009

The U.S. Embassy would like to alert you to the situation in Karatina, in the Nyeri area of the Central Province:

Following violence between local youth and members of the outlawed Mungiki sect, tensions remain high.  Reports say that local vigilantes armed with traditional weapons are patrolling the area on motorbikes.  Police officers and roadblocks are now present as well. 

Karatina is on the main road from Nairobi to Nanyuki and the western Mount Kenya region but not on the road leading to Meru and eastern Mount Kenya.  Attempt to avoid the area.  If you must travel in the area, do so with caution and only during daylight hours.

Americans who travel to or reside in Kenya are encouraged to register through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.  The U.S. Embassy is located on United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya; telephone (254) (20) 363-6000; fax (254) (20) 363-6157.  In the event of an after-hours emergency, the Embassy duty officer may be contacted at (254) (20) 363-6000.  The Embassy home page is http://kenya.usembassy.gov.

Updated information on travel and security in Kenya may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  For further information, please consult the Country Specific Information for Kenya and the Worldwide Caution, which are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov.