The United States Embassy in Nairobi has advised American tourists that they must buy Kenyan health insurance before travelling to Kenya, warning that visitors who land without a policy risk being refused entry. The notice, posted on the embassy's website on Friday, 16 October, says the requirement has applied to all tourists since 5 October 2026.

According to the embassy, the cover is bought as part of the application for Kenya's electronic travel authorisation (eTA). Travellers whose eTAs were approved before they purchased a policy are not exempt and must still obtain one before arrival. The embassy directs visitors to the government's eCitizen insurance portal and urges them to keep an electronic copy of the policy.

The advisory also says airlines have been asked to check passengers' insurance before boarding flights to Kenya. Diplomats, aircraft crew, Kenyan residents and passengers in transit are exempt.

What the rule requires

The requirement flows from Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026, issued by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale under Section 26(6) of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023. The law requires non-Kenyans who intend to stay in the country for less than 12 months to hold travel health insurance designated by the Health CS.

Under the notice, as reported by Citizen Digital and Kenyans.co.ke, a qualifying policy must offer total benefits of at least US$50,000, about Sh6.4 million. That includes a minimum of US$25,000 for emergency medical transport, US$20,000 for medical expenses, US$5,000 for repatriation of remains, US$1,000 for mental health treatment and US$300 for prescribed medicines. Policies must come from insurers approved and licensed under Kenya's Insurance Act.

The Department of Immigration Services is responsible for checking compliance, both through the eTA system before travel and at ports of entry, The Star reported in August.

Airlines and the courts

The embassy's notice follows similar warnings from carriers. The Eastleigh Voice reported on 14 October that Malawi Airlines, in a travel advisory dated 13 October, told passengers that the cover was mandatory regardless of when tickets were bought. The airline's advisory followed a circular from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to operators of scheduled and non-scheduled international passenger flights into the country.

The rule has survived a legal challenge. The Eastleigh Voice reported on 7 October that the High Court in Marsabit, through Justice Francis Rayola Olel, dismissed a constitutional petition against the gazette notice, finding that it had been properly issued and that immigration officers were only verifying a condition of entry rather than regulating insurers. The same court had earlier suspended the requirement pending the hearing, the Daily Nation reported in August.

Confusion over existing cover

One point remains unclear for visitors. In August, the Ministry of Health said travellers whose insurance from their home countries met the minimum values would only need to upload proof of that cover on the eTA platform, according to Kenyans.co.ke and The Star. The ministry also said visitors without cover could buy a compliant policy at the point of entry.

However, the embassy's message tells tourists to purchase Kenyan insurance, and the Malawi Airlines advisory cited by the Eastleigh Voice said foreign travel insurance would not be accepted as a substitute. Travellers are advised to confirm the latest position on the eTA portal before departure.

The requirement adds insurance obligations, application steps and travel costs for international visitors, employers, travel agents and tour operators arranging trips to Kenya, the Eastleigh Voice noted.

Photo: The international arrivals terminal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. N. Whittle / Wikimedia Commons, public domain