When coming to Kenya as a tourist or expatriate, getting around with ease quickly becomes a priority. While you can use an Uber for a while, driving yourself is more convenient. So the question I’m sure you must have already asked yourself is: Can A Foreigner Drive in Kenya? I have been driving in Kenya for over 10 years and have had a number of my foreign friends drive when they visit. It, therefore, came as a surprise to learn that this is technically illegal.
According to the Traffic Act of the Laws of Kenya Section 31, You will need to be issued with a driving license here in Kenya for you to be able to drive in Kenya as a foreigner. You will not need to do any driving tests if you come from the Commonwealth countries or if you hold an international driving license. However, it is illegal for you to drive on the Kenyan roads without a valid driving license issued by the Kenyan government. In this article, I will try to break down what this law means from a layman’s point of view and outline what you need to do in order to legally drive on Kenyan roads as a foreigner.
Related: Owning a Car as A foreigner in Kenya – All you need to know
Disclaimer: Before I begin, I would like to clearly state that I am not a lawyer and you should not consider this as legal advice. If you are in doubt about any of the things that I’m talking about below please consult legal counsel before taking any action.
What does a foreigner need in order for them to drive on Kenyan roads?
I have been driving in Kenya since 2008 and consider myself a pretty good driver. Before I could drive, I had to go to a driving school then do a driving test with the police before I could be issued with a license. It was a really grueling process and I flunked once and had to do the rest again before getting my license.
I have had foreign friends who have driven around in Kenya with their foreign driving licenses without any issues with the police who would sometime stop us. It, therefore, came as a surprise to notice that driving on Kenyan roads without a valid license from the Kenyan government as a foreigner may be illegal.
As I was reading the Traffic Act of Kenya section 31, that talks about who can be issued with a valid driving license in Kenya, I noticed the following phrases:
A licensing officer shall not grant an applicant a driving license endorsed in respect of any class of motor vehicle unless the applicant—
- satisfies the licensing officer that he … is the holder of a valid driving license for that class of motor vehicle granted by a competent authority in some part of the Commonwealth where such driving licenses are granted only after a prescribed test has been passed or is the holder of an international driving permit;
According to my own interpretation, this means that for you to be granted a license to drive a vehicle here in Kenya he will need to either be from the Commonwealth or hold an international driving license. This, therefore means that even if you already have a license from your home country you will need to be issued with one here in Kenya.
This is different from what I have seen on other blog posts that interpret this law to mean that if you have a driving license within the Commonwealth or hold an international driving license, actually drive in Kenya. according to my understanding of the Act, having a license from a country in the Commonwealth or holding an international driving license only bypasses your requirement to take a driving test here in Kenya. In my opinion does not, however, allow you to drive on Kenyan roads.
What kind of vehicles can a foreigner drive in Kenya
Licenses in Kenya restrict the kind of vehicle that you can drive. depending on the training that you have received you are allowed to drive one or all of the following:
- Motorcycles
- Small vehicles
- Public service vehicles
- Commercial vehicles and trucks
- Heavy commercial vehicles
- Construction machinery like trains bulldozers and graders.
Based on what I have observed in the Law above, a foreigner can drive any class of vehicles here in Kenya as long as they have been issued with that right license for it. If you had been allowed to drive heavy commercial vehicles in your home country and have the necessary documentation to prove it. For instance, if you have an international driving license, you can easily be allowed to drive the same kind of vehicle here in Kenya.
Does a foreigner still need to keep Kenyan driving rules
As a foreigner, the same driving rules and laws that apply to the locals also apply to you as you drive on the Kenyan roads. Some of these laws are obscure and it is important to try and know as many of them to avoid getting harassed by the police officers.
Read the Kenyan Traffic Act and the Highways Act to understand the laws. ( I found a large number of helpful PDFs with instructions the laws you need to follow.)
Tips on staying safe on Kenyan roads
As I mentioned, I have been driving in Kenya for a many years and I have picked up a few tips that can help you as a foreigner stay safe and sane on our roads
Learn patience
I consider Kenyan roads really peculiar with the impatience of Kenyan drivers in full display. This can be incredibly annoying and it’s easy to do something stupid in your moment of anger.
If you’re the kind of person that easily gets angry and irritated then you need to prepare with how you’re going to deal with that when you start driving in Kenya.
We drive on the left side
Unlike most of the world, Kenyans drive on the left side of the road. This can be a bit unsettling if you’re normally used to drive on the right side.
This also means that all Kenyan vehicles are right-handed. With the steering wheel being on the right side of the car you may need to get used to where the blinker or indicator lights is and how to overtake if you’re normally used driving with a with a vehicle that is left hand drive.
Speed limit rules are strict on highways
The speed limits on Kenyan highways are really enforced in there many speed cops that flag down vehicles that are driving above the speed limit. The standard speed limit on Kenyan highways is 110 km/h and you need to keep below this. I personally keep below the 100km/h to avoid any false positives because you will have a hard time trying to explain to the officer that you’re driving at 109km/h.
Watch out for Matatus
Matatus are Kenyan public service vehicles. They are either a 14-seater van or her 32 seater minibus. An easy way of identifying them is that all of them are required to have a yellow line around the body of the vehicle.
Matatus are notorious for driving recklessly on the road and stopping dangerously as they drop-off and pick-up passengers.
As a new driver, you need to be careful with these vehicles and give them a wide berth. I personally try to keep the two-second rule to avoid running into the back of these vehicles.
Keep your eyes on the motorbikes
Motorbikes are another thing that you need to watch out for when driving in Kenya. They usually don’t follow the normal traffic rules and will overtake you from any side. You, therefore, need to be aware of what’s going on around you before making any sharp turns.
You need to be assertive
You will find the need to assert yourself when you trying to get into an intersection or merge into a highway. Since most Kenyan drivers drive really agressively, they will rarely give way unless you assert yourself.
This usually applies for Matatus (public service vehicles) and would mostly need to be applied within Nairobi Central Business district.
with high levels of aggressiveness that Kenyan drivers have you will need to have a fair amount of courage and a good amount of patience but you’ll get the hang of it after a few weeks driving.
Insane traffic
Nairobi and Mombasa sometimes experience really bad traffic jams and you need to be prepared for this. To ensure that you don’t get late leave early and try to use the car during the off-peak times of the day.
Roll up your windows
When you are in traffic jams, new needs to ensure that your windows are rolled up and that your doors are locked. This is due to the great risk of your car being pilfered as you tried negotiating the Nairobi traffic.
Usually, people with intentions to steal from you will pretend to be pedestrians crossing the road or weaving their way in between the cars.
Another important thing is that you need to put your devices away from the view of anyone passing by. Getting your car windows tinted will help with this.
Avoid driving at night
I think this advice applies for anywhere around the world. Driving at night exposes you to high levels of risk for accidents and hijacking and unless you have to stay away from Kenyan roads at night. It may help to take an Uber if you are going somewhere at night since local drivers would have a better knowledge of risky places to avoid when driving at night.
Dealing with traffic police in Kenya.
One of the places where you will interact with Kenyan law enforcement the most will be on the roads. Having a clear strategy of how to manage the police when driving in Kenya is pivotal in reducing the amount of risks associated with them.
Unlike most western countries, the police are not very friendly here in Kenya and will be very combative in dealing with you. the following tips will help you keep your interactions with them short and uneventful.
- Ensure that you have your license with you at all times.
- make sure that you stop if you’re flagged down by the police officer.
- Once your flag down, before stopping, roll down your windows
- Ensure that your vehicle has valid car insurance that has not expired.
- Ensure that your vehicle has the following items in it before embarking on your trip
- An equipped first aid kit
- Hazard triangles (I forget what they’re called)
- A small fire extinguisher
- Make sure that the threats to your tires are not worn out. This also applies to the spare wheel.
- you are asked to produce any of the items of mentioned above do so without arguing or inquiring why (as I write this, it has occurred to me that I may need to deal with trauma from past police experiences)
Can foreigners ride motorbikes on Kenyan roads?
You can ride a motorbike in Kenya as long as you are above the age of 16 and have a valid driving licence that allows you to drive a motorbike.
you will need to make sure that you have a helmet and a reflective jacket in addition to any other safety equipment that you may need when riding your motorbike in Kenya.
A Final Word
As you prepare for your trip to Africa, I would like to recommend a few products that would help make your life easier.
- Shoes: I recommend that you check the Keen Hiking shoes. I have written an extensive article on the best shoes for an African safari and this shoe checks all the boxes for things you should look for when choosing a shoe for Africa. (Check out the Keen Hiking Shoes on Amazon)
- Camera: If you are not big on photography, I would not advise you to buy a brand new camera for your African Adventure. Good cameras can be expensive and buying a camera you will not use is not a good use of your limited budget. I advise that you rent a camera instead and Lens Rentals have a great Safari Camera Kit perfect for someone traveling to Africa. If you are thinking of getting into photography, then you can invest in a new camera but before you do, check out my pick for the best Safari Camera for a Beginner like Me
- Information About Africa: I have created a YouTube channel that focuses on things about traveling to Africa that only Africans can tell you about. Check out the channel for insights about African culture and things you can do as a traveler to optimize your trip. You should also visit TripAdvisor forum posts (Here is the Kenya Forum) and ask questions about your particular situation. There are a lot of people who are happy to help you out.
- Choosing a Safari Company: I have written an extensive article on how to choose a safari Company. You can. Check it out before starting the process of searching for a safari company.
- Consulting Session: If you have any questions you would like to ask me about Kenya, I would invite you to contact me for a 30-minute consultation session where I will share my knowledge about East Africa and share experiences that will help you make your trip easier. Reach out to me on email – antonynjoro@gmail.com
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