Travel Alert Status
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Time Difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Travel Climate
Nairobi has four seasons, but overall temperature changes are moderate. Mid‑ December through March are mainly sunny and warm by day, cool at night, and generally dry. April and May constitute the principal rainy season with lower day temperatures. The months of June through September are mainly dry, but often cloudy and cool, with cool nights. October and November make up the short rainy season, with long sunny periods, warm days, and cool nights. Average annual rainfall in Nairobi is about 39 inches, but the actual amount varies widely in any year.
Travel Currency
Kenyan shilling (KES)
Language Spoken
English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Languages
English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Ethnic Groups
Kikuyu 17.1%, Luhya 14.3%, Kalenjin 13.4%, Luo 10.7%, Kamba 9.8%, Somali 5.8%, Kisii 5.7%, Mijikenda 5.2%, Meru 4.2%, Maasai 2.5%, Turkana 2.1%, non-Kenyan 1%, other 8.2%
National Holiday
Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963); note - Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963) marks the day Kenya attained internal self-rule
Geographic Coordinates
1 00 N, 38 00 E
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Airports
16