Staying Safe as A Missionary in Kenya – A Local’s Guide

Going to Kenya for a mission trip can be an amazing experience. You get to experience the warmth of the Kenyan people while getting the opportunity to serve communities in need. However, for many potential missionaries, the one thing that holds them back from taking the trip to come to Kenya is fears about security. I have lived in Kenya my whole life and thought it would be good to answer the question: Is Kenya Safe For Missionaries? And what can you do to ensure that you stay safe when travelling to Kenya as a missionary?

Kenya is a safe country for missionaries, and there are many foreign missionaries serving in Kenya safely. However, as a missionary, you will need to take precautions and follow a few safety rules to ensure that you and your fellow missionaries are safe. These include avoiding certain areas, not walking at night and staying vigilant when out in public. In this article, I will break down the things you need to do to stay safe as a missionary in Kenya.

Is Kenya a Safe Country for Missionaries?

I have a friend who came to kenya with his family as a long term missionary in Thika Town. In the three years, they lived in Thika, they never had any security incidences even though they lived in a secluded area of Thika and regularly visited the Kiandutu slum for mission work.

Kenya is safe for you as a missionary but, just like my missionary friends, you will need to take precautions that will help you stay safe. One of these is getting a local contact who will guide you on the things you need to do to stay safe in Kenya.

Unsafe places for missionaries in Kenya

Just like any country around the world, there are certain places in Kenya that are unsafe for foreigners and it would be inadvisable for you as a missionary to visit them. Below are general characteristics of places you should avoid but you need to work closely with your local contact to get advice specific places in your locality to avoid.

1. North Eastern parts of Kenya: It may be unfair to warn you against the whole of the northeastern region but it has been home to a number of attacks by terrorists in years past and it may not be safe for foreigners to travel
2. Going to slums unaccompanied: you need to have a resident of the slum accompanying you when going into a Kenyan slum. This is because slum trouble makers can easily spot non-residents even if they are Kenyans and you may get mugged.
3. Lonely alleys and paths in cities: Even locals like me like avoiding going into lonely alleys in Nairobi and other towns. This is because they are normally a haven for muggers and there are many people who have gotten mugged in such alleys.

Dangerous activities as a missionary in Kenya

On top of dangerous places you should avoid when in Kenya, here are a few activities that are ill-advised  when in Kenya as a missionary:

1. Walking at night: Unless you are in a gated community with secured entry and exit for all residents, you need to avoid taking walks when the sun sets. Places that are perfectly safe for you during the day can be quite unsafe when it’s dark. You will be safer if you are in a busy urban setting like Nairobi Central Business district but you still need to keep your wits about you even more than during the day.
2. Walking with a lot of camera equipment: Avoid this when you are in busy streets like Nairobi CBD and other towns in Kenya. You will attract the wrong type of attention and make you an easy target since the person targetting you can distract you and take a lot of equipment from you.
3. Travelling with flashy jewellery: This will attract the wrong type of attention, especially in Nairobi. This, however, does not mean that you should not carry any jewellery. You can wear some but make sure that it’s not loud.
4. Travelling with a lot of cash on you: if someone notices that you have a lot of money on you, they may decide to trail you to a more “convenient” place for them. Many businesses accept card payments and you will not need to have too much cash on you.

How to stay safe when walking in Kenya

When walking on busy streets like Nairobi, Mombasa and other busy towns, you need stay aware of your surroundings and take note of any suspicious activities around you. Usually, if you are vigilant and have your wits about you, troublemakers will notice it and target someone else.

Below are some tricks I personally use when walking on busy streets:

1. Carry your laptop bag in front of you: Most pickpockets like backpacks since the bag is not in your direct line of sight. By placing my laptop bag in front of me, anyone trying some funny business will avoid me.
2. Avoid handbags (for ladies): Handbags are easy targets since they are easy to grab out of your hands if you are not expecting it. It’s most advisable to avoid them when you come for your mission trip (as a side note, here is a list I prepared of 10 Things you need to do when preparing for a mission trip to Africa) (as a side note, here is a list I prepared of 10 Things you need to do when preparing for a mission trip to Africa).
3. Stay vigilant: Being keenly aware of your environment will help you be ready for someone planning trouble.
4. Avoid large crowds:  If you see any crowds gathering, stay away from them. Pickpockets love such crowds of unsuspecting people who are so focused on what’s going on in front of them than their pockets.
5. Be suspicious of help: Treat any help from strangers with suspicion. This is because people may sometimes pose to be a helpful passer-by but they may have the intentions of conning or harming you.
6. Fake Cops: Some times, people impersonate cops with the goal of getting money from unsuspecting people. Be ware of this but also be careful not to ignore an actual police officer. Impostor cops usually operate at night so as to avoid the actual policemen.

How to stay safe when handing out tracts

When witnessing on the streets or handing out tracts, you will need to be vigilant to avoid any security challenges. Here are a few tips to help you out.

1. Keep your wits about you and take note of your surroundings.
2. Go out in groups of at least two people and try to have a local accompany each group.
3. Leave bags and purses at home and carry whatever money you need in your pockets.
4. Follow instructions from your local contact about the places you should avoid when witnessing

How to stay safe when driving in Kenya

One of the most dangerous things you can do in Kenya as a foreigner is to drive on Kenyan roads unprepared for what you will find. Kenya is notorious for its rough drivers and crazy matatus (public transport vehicles). I would advise you to spend a few weeks observing how Kenyans drive before you start driving your own car.

My missionary friends were allowed to drive here in Kenya with their American driving licences so you will not be in trouble with the police here. It is the crazy driving that is likely to get you in trouble if you are not prepared for it.

How to stay safe when taking public transport (matatu)

Taking a ride in a public transport vehicle in Kenya for the first time is quite a memorable experience. Most Kenyan public transport vehicles are 14 seater vans and they are your most reliable way of getting around Kenya cheaply. You will need to stay vigilant for pickpockets when riding in Matatus. Mobile phones and wallets are easy targets and you will need to keep checking your pockets as you get up to leave and when you are getting seated.

How to secure your home/mission base

As a missionary, your home has your most valuable assets and its the one place you need to feel safe as you do your mission work. Here are a few tips on securing your home:

1. Choosing a good neighbourhood: Securing your home first begins with choosing a safe neighbourhood that offers some kind of centralized security. Gated communities are great for this and you can find one to rent at reasonable rates if you look around.
2. Avoiding arriving home after dark: Entering your home at night is the riskiest thing you can do and you need to avoid it. It will be easy for the attackers to gain entry to the house as you enter it yourself. A number of my friends have encountered this and it is a real threat that you need to take care of.
3. Avoid inviting strangers into your home: As a missionary, you may be tempted to bring someone you just met back to your home base and this can pose a danger for you and the other missionaries you are with. In the occasion that you have strangers in the house, put away any expensive electronics like computers, and game consoles.
4. Take note of any suspicious activities around your home and report anything suspicious to your local contact who will then advise if you should report it to the police. The police over here are not very friendly and helpful so its usually best to go to them as the last resort.

Final thoughts

1. It’s important to keep a local contact person and listen to their advice on matters of safety. Their experience will help you navigate around security challenges and stay safe in Kenya as a missionary.
2. Stay vigilant, especially when out of your home. This in itself is a good deterrent against security challenges

Kenya is a lovely place to do mission work. You will enjoy the warmth of the Kenyan people and if you get a chance, you need to visit the National Parks and the beaches to get the full Kenyan Experience. So as you prepare to come, do not be afraid of what you will find. As long as you follow the suggestions I have given above and follow basic common sense, you will enjoy a safe missionary trip.