U.S. EMBASSY NAIROBI
Security Message for U.S. Citizens
November 24, 2017
Precautions for swearing-in ceremony
President Uhuru Kenyatta will be sworn in as President of Kenya for a second term on Tuesday, November 28, 2017. The ceremony will be held at Kansarani Stadium in Nairobi. Many thousands are expected to attend, including heads of state. Restrictions on traffic circulation can be expected.
Ongoing political tensions regarding the election and the swearing-in may result in rallies, demonstrations, and protests, which may occur with little notice. As with all large events, there is the opportunity for criminal elements or terrorists to target participants and visitors. Even events intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. Unless you are attending the swearing-in ceremony, you should avoid the area around Kansarani Stadium.
- Avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place and exercise caution when in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.
- Although there is no indication that U.S. citizens may be targets of violence, you are urged to exercise caution and remain abreast of the security situation.
- Monitor media and local information sources. Remain alert when using public transportation.
Report specific safety concerns to local law enforcement authorities. For further information:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Kenya Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in Kenya located on United Nations Avenue, Nairobi, at +254 (0) 20 363 6451 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Friday. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +254 (0) 20 363 6170.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
- Follow the U.S. Embassy Nairobi on social media. Our twitter feed is athttps://twitter.com/USEmbassyKenya, and our Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/U.S.EmbassyNairobi.