Warden Messages

Warden Message - U.S. Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya

April 4, 2008

This Warden message is being issued to remind American citizens of the potential for violent crime in Kenya.  On March 25, a locally hired Embassy employee and his daughter were robbed at gunpoint in Nairobi while on his way to work.  The victims were ordered to the ground by the gunmen and robbed of their personal belongings.  The victims did not resist the assailants and there were no injuries.

Crime is rampant, indiscriminate, at times violent, and can happen almost anywhere, although the risk of violent crime is higher in urban areas, especially Nairobi. American citizens should pay attention to their surroundings at all times, invest time in developing a personal security plan for all situations, and comply immediately with the demands of assailants as this reduces the risk of injury. 

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Public Announcements, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). 

Americans 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) 363-6410.  In the event of an after-hours emergency, the Embassy duty officer may be contacted at (254) (20) 363-6170.  The Embassy home page is http://kenya.usembassy.gov.