Kenya - Country Information

Film Commissions

Kenya Film Commission
Tel: 020 386 6114, 020 386 6121 Fax: 020 386 6117
E-mail: info@filmingkenya.com
Website: www.filmkenya.com
Managing Director: David Maingi

Permits
Film Licence from Ministry of Tourism & Information.

Tax breaks/incentives
Security Bond on film equipment of $500 regardless of actual values.

Recent Productions
Nowhere in Africa, Survivor III.

General Information

Location: East Africa
Local Time: GMT +3
Capital City: Nairobi
Population: 29 million
Area: 582,646 square km, 224,960 square miles.
Language(s): Kiswahili, English, many local languages
Dialling Code: 254
Emergency: Police: 999
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard: PAL
Driving: Driving is on the left. International Driving Permit recommended. National licences are renewable after every 3 years and must be endorsed by the Kenya Revenue Authority Headquarters, Times Tower, Haile Sellassie Avenue
Electricity: 220/240V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES 1 = 100 Cents)
Notes: KES: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000
Coins: KES: 1, 5, 10, 20, 40. Cents: 5, 10, 20

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Tanzanian and Ugandan currency is only negotiable in the form of travellers cheques

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1500 Mon-Fri, 0900-1100 Sat (first & last Sat of each month)
Office: 0800-1300 & 1400-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0830-1230 & 1400-1730 Mon-Sat

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Year's Day, Mar 21 Good Friday, Mar 24 Easter Monday, May 1 Labour Day, Jun 1 Madaraka Day, Oct 10 Moi Day, Oct 2 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan), Oct 20 Kenyatta Day, Dec 12 Independence Day, Dec 25 Christmas Day, Dec 26 Boxing Day.
* Dates may vary according to the lunar calendar.
* Holidays falling on a Sunday are observed on the following Monday.

Business/Social Hints: Most executives speak English. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants or clubs, be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated

Tipping: When a service charge has been added to the bill, additional tips are discretionary

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Exempt infants under 1 year.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera*, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, meningitis*, polio, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria exists all year throughout the country. There is normally little risk in Nairobi and in the highlands (above 2,500 metres) of Central, Eastern, Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western Provinces. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid 6 months from date of entry

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Kenya
2) For tourism visits up to 3 months by nationals of Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, St Kitts Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia & Zimbabwe
3) For tourism visits up to 30 days Nationals of Malaysia, South Africa

Notes: A Visitor's Pass is obtainable on arrival (except to nationals of Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Korea (North), Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan & Yemen), however, it is strongly recommended to obtain a visa prior to departure

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to another country without leaving the airport, provided holding confirmed onward/return tickets & documentation for their next destination

Exit Permits

Special Notes

All visitors must hold onward/return tickets, documents required for next destination & sufficient funds for length of stay (minimum USD 500)

Climate

Much of Kenya has either subtropical or temperate climate and has variable rainfall from year to year. The coastal regions wettest season is Apr-May and to a lesser extent Oct-Nov although rain occurs in all months. Temperatures and humidity stay high throughout the year but are tempered by strong onshore breezes. The northern frontier area and lower inland plateaux has very low rainfall and high temperatures year round. The highlands in the centre and west of the country have two rainy seasons. The sunniest period is between Dec-Mar and the cloudiest, often with drizzle between late March and early June. July and August are the coolest months. The higher mountain regions have low enough temperatures for frost and snow to occur

Clothing

Lightweight or tropical are generally required although warmer clothing may be necessary for the evenings in the higher regions of the country. Rainwear is advisable between Mar-Jun and Oct-Nov

Charts for Nairobi

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 25 26 25 24 22 21 21 21 24 24 23 23 Min Temp (C) 12 13 14 14 13 12 11 11 11 13 13 13 Humidity am (%) 74 74 81 88 88 89 86 86 82 82 86 81 Humidity pm (%) 44 40 45 56 62 60 58 56 45 43 53 53 Rainfall (mm) 38 64 125 211 158 46 15 23 31 53 109 86

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Kenya Tourist Board
c/o Hills Balfour Synergy
Colechurch House,
1 London Bridge Walk, SE1 2SX
tel: +44 20 7367 0928
fax: +44 20 7407 3810
e-mail: kenya@hillsbalour.com
website: www.magicalkenya.com

Embassy
High Commission of Kenya
45 Portland Place
London, W1N 4AS
tel: +44 20 7636 2371
fax: +44 20 7323 6717
e-mail: kcomm45@aol.com
website: www.kenyahighcommission.net
hours: 0930-1200 (Mon-Fri), 1400-1530 (Mon-Fri) collection