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Expat Women Living in Kenya
If you are (or plan to be) an expat living in Kenya, please find below a list of expat clubs, schools, general links for women living in Kenya, country information and more...
American Women's Association of Kenya http://www.awakenya.org
American Women’s Association (AWA) is a nonprofit, charitable organization promoting community services and development and volunteering opportunities in Kenya as well as providing social and cultural activities for our multi-national members.
Kenya Quilt Guild http://kenyaquiltguild.wordpress.com
The idea of forming a Quilt Guild in Nairobi was the brainchild of Canadian Anne Mains and American Dena Crain in the mid-1990's. The Guild was registered as the Kenya Quilt Guild in 1999 with around 30 members and has since grown to about 100 members, mostly in Nairobi but with a large active group at the coast based in Mombasa and a scattering of members upcountry. Since its inception the KQG has held regular Quilt Exhibitions in Nairobi and held its first International Exhibition in Canada in October 2008.
General Links for Kenya
Helen O'Grady Drama Academy http://www.dramaafrica.com/kenya.html
The Helen O'Grady Drama Academy is truly international and Africa's largest community-based drama school for young people from 5-18 years of age and adults. Students gain greater confidence and self-esteem while also developing verbal and acting abilities. And of course, classes are great fun, too!
Kenya Museum Society http://www.kenyamuseumsociety.org
A non-profit member's organization founded by palaeoanthropologist Richard Leakey in 1971 to support and promote the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), the custodian of Kenya's natural and cultural heritage. Proceeds from the KMS Museum Shop, activities and public programs such as the Know Kenya Course go into the KMS Grants Program which since 2000 has awarded the National Museums of Kenya amounts exceeding KES 10 million. KMS is a society run by volunteers who come in all colours, nationalities, shapes and sizes. What they have in common is a generosity of spirit and time, and an interest in Kenya, its peoples, history and culture.
Kenya Quilt Guild http://www.kenyaquiltguild.org/
A vibrant cosmopolitan group of around 130 women - and one man - who all love the art of quilting.The largest group is based in and around Nairobi where meetings are held monthly and an active weekly Workshop gives members the chance to meet and work on group projects. Smaller groups meet regularly at members' homes and offer each advice and support on their individual projects.
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These tips were kindly provided by volunteer Expat Women Mentors in 2007. ExpatWomen.com shares these tips in an effort to help but takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information.
Provided by Julie D, British, Nairobi, Kenya
1.
Come and have a look-see visit before making a decision on whether to move here. We almost didn't take the posting because of security concerns we'd heard second-hand.... which proved to be exaggerated, although there are some security issues.
2.
Make sure you look at the 'suburb' areas of Nairobi such as Karen and Muthaiga as these are very different to down-town Nairobi.
3.
Plan lots of week-end breaks to the coast and on safaris... there are so many places to visit here.
4.
Depending on where you are moving from, have a good shop before getting here. Most imported goods are 3 if not 4 times more expensive than UK or South African prices because of added tax.
5.
Bring winter and summer clothes! The temperature in the winter months is a cool 14 degrees some days and lower at night time.
Settling In Tips for Kenya
ExpatWomen thanks TheExpatriate.org for supplying the following Settling In Tips for Kenya. This is only a small summary to help you get acquainted to your new country. You can find much more detailed information, including local websites (that we have not included here) at their website http://TheExpatriate.org
Temporary Stay Visa
Passports must be valid for three months from date of entry.
Nationals of the following countries do not need visas to travel to Kenya:
Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei-Darussalam, Cyprus, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji Islands, Gambia, The, Ghana, Grenada, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe
If you are NOT a citizen of any of the above countries and you wish to enter Kenya, you must obtain a visa in advance to enter the country.
Applications from Nationals of the following countries have to be referred to Nairobi for approval:
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Tazikstan, Yemen, Stateless Persons. Persons falling under the above category are advised to apply at least three months before the proposed.
Single-entry: up to three months from date of issue; Multiple-entry: up to 12 months from date of issue. Renewals (up to six months) or extensions can be made at Immigration in Nyayo House, Uhuru Highway, Nairobi or at Kisumu and Mombasa. The period of stay in Kenya can be given at the port of entry (maximum three months).
Resident Permit
For a stay in Kenya exceeding 6 months, one must obtain a residence permit that can be delivered during the first stay, valid for one year. It must be renewed each time the work contract is renewed. The permit renewal can be valid for five years, each time.
There are multiple classes of entry permits depending on the work you will be doing (Class A to L) so check with your employer and the local Embassy to ensure you apply for the correct visa.
The cost of living in Kenya is very low and now the stability of the country is vastly improved more holiday and retirement home hunters are finding that they can achieve a good standard of living in an incredibly beautiful country and buy up property for very low prices.
As the phone system is notorious for its lack of reliability, you are better off getting a mobile phone. The two major operators in Kenya are Zain and Safaricom albeit we have several recent notable entrants namely Econet Wireless (with the brand name YU) and Orange.
If you are cost conscious and are looking at getting the best out of the current price war (between the mobile operators), consider investing in a phone that can have two SIM cards and you are good to go.
All the companies mentioned above do offer both prepaid and post paid services. For prepaid you buy a scratch card and recharge which normally come in denominations of Kshs 20, 50, 100, 200, 250, 500, 1000, 10,000 dependent on the provider while as a post paid subscriber you get a bill at the end of the month.
For postpaid, you can decide on your maximum monthly limit and when you surpass that then you can recharge by buying scratch cards. Typical calling rates range between Kshs 3 to 15 between people on the same operator and others- all dependent on the tariff you are on and who's your provider.
It is also very useful to be able to load money on your phone and send it other people, buy airtime or even pay your utilities. Currently we have MPESA from Safaricom and ZAP from Zain. Make sure your phone and provider can offer this service.
The waiting lists are long for getting a land line and it is best to make sure that it is already connected to your proposed home.
Local TV channels are available and these include Nation TV, Kenya Television Network (KTN), Citizen TV, KISS TV, Classic TV, Family TV and the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), the state run broadcaster. Some of these stations air relatively old shows but with very good news coverage. Others like KISS TV are primarily music channels while Family TV offers Christian programming.
DSTV satellite is available from South Africa and this comes with three different packages with the highest costing about US $80 per month for 55 channels with movies, soaps, national geographic, music channels and sports coverage, including the English Premiership.
Expensive and speeds can be quite slow but Safaricom, Zain & Orange offer instant connect modems to your laptop. The prices can cost about US$25- 40 on a monthly basis all dependent on your usage though Zain has a flat fee package. For more reliable speeds Access Kenya would be a good place to start with the premium package costing as much as US$90 per month and the value package going for US$60. Please note that Access Kenya charge an installation fee of about US$190, which is a one off payment.
The Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) has a wide network nationally with destinations throughout the world. Letters usually arrive in 1 day in urban area to 6 days in hardship areas.
The postal service does not deliver to physical (home or office) addresses- though Villa Care (a local property developer) has partnered with the PCK to try and bring this to fruition. All mail has to be collected from P.O. boxes or private bags. These are rented at an annual fee from the Post Office- costing between US$25- 40 p.a.
Although there are Post Offices in all areas of the city, it is not always possible to rent a box in the location of choice due to lack of availability. Many employees receive their mail through their company's box, and a messenger checks the mail and delivers to them. There are private mail collectors who will check your box and hand deliver at a charge.
Courier services deliver directly to a property, but sufficient information has to be provided for the property to be correctly identified. Roads are named but not all properties are numbered. The numbering system is not consistent, some numbers relate to property lots. LR (Land Registration) numbers are shown on large-scale survey maps) of many years ago, whereas other lots have been sub-divided and assigned new numbers more recently. A typical example of a physical address in Kenya would be: House LR 1870/IV/99, with a blue gate, South Street, opposite South Court, between number 00 and number 0000. The telephone number and postal (Box number) address of both the sender and the recipient must also be given. If the courier is searching for the house, he can phone in for directions.
There are international courier operators such as DHL, TNT, FedEx, Skynet Worldwide Express, etc with extensive international networks.
Domestic operators are Securicor, Nation Carriers, Roy Parcels, etc with wide domestic outlets.
Electricity: Black outs in electrical power supply can be common dependent on where you live. There are times when the power supply is low so lights will merely glow rather than illuminate the room. In most properties in up-market areas, landlords have installed generators, which go on automatically when there is a blackout.
The electrical supply is 220 volts alternating current at 50 hertz, like in Europe. It is recommended to invest in voltage regulators. The voltage regulators are available in almost all the better electrical goods stores in Kenya and leading supermarkets like Nakumatt, Uchumi and Tuskys.
Water: Tap water should not be drunk without purifying. Domestic Water Filters, which merely remove suspended particles, are only recommended if the water is also boiled before use. A filter plus ultra violet light treatment and/or an iodised filter should be used to eliminate pathogens - there are several available locally that plumb in under the sink or fit onto the tap.
Some properties have private boreholes. The landlord may charge directly for water consumed or water may be included in the rent. The water must be treated as above. For your own peace of mind, samples may be tested for purity at the Kenya Bureau of Standards laboratory.
Gas: Piped natural gas is not available; cylinders of liquid petroleum gas are purchased and then refilled as required. (Readily available from most service stations and supermarkets with home delivery available). Although there is no public piped gas supply in Kenya, some apartments have bulk storage tanks from which gas is piped directly into the property, usually at no extra cost to the tenant.
When you arrive in Kenya, you will probably stay in a hotel for the first few days. To get some more privacy you can consider a furnished apartment for the next few months. You will find a lot of possibilities around Nairobi. For a one-bedroom apartment or a small two-bedroom apartment it is usually around Ksh 60,000 per month. If you are going to stay longer, you might want to find a bigger apartment or a house. To help you find a place, you can look in TheExpatriate.org Notice Board, the daily Nation or Standard newspapers, Focus on Property (Ksh 60), the weekly ADmag (free, every Friday), notice boards in shopping centres/organisations, or go to some of the real estate agencies.
Remember to ask for availability of water, electricity and phone. These resources are scarce in some areas. Also, if possible try to talk to a prior tenant, in order to know some more about the place, area and landlord.
As a matter of precaution it is advised not to sign any documents before any work that is to be done by the landlord has been dealt with.
Real Estate Agencies
There are several real estate agencies around who are of great help in the search for a home. Usually, they are good at helping out with all the practical things. - contacts of Real estate agencies from the resources hub
Prices for housing
Apartments with 3 bedrooms are around Ksh 40,000 to 60,000 per month including 24h security of the compound. Maisonettes (or town houses) usually have a small garden and parking within the compound and go for around 40,000 to 80,000 per month. Houses with 3 to 5 bedrooms are around Ksh 60,000 to 150,000 per month, depending on location, size of garden, etc. For houses, the price does not include security. In Kenya it is advised to have 24h security. So you should add around 15,000 per month. for 24h security through one of the major companies.
House security
No matter where you are staying in Kenya it is advised that you have 24 hours security on your premises. It is possible to hire guards (ascaris) yourself, but there are several security companies that offer 24h security service. By using a major company you save yourself a lot of trouble if a guard is sick or going on leave etc. Also, the companies can install alarm buttons in strategic places around the house and for the guard. If the button is pressed, assistance will arrive within minutes, as the companies have cars placed all over residential areas.
Currency can be exchanged at the major banks, bureaux de change or authorised hotels. The bank at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport have 24-hour exchange services. The easiest currencies to exchange are US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros. It is important to carry some cash with you as some places do not accept credit cards. Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) are available at all major banks.
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all widely accepted. Major hotels now also accept payment by credit card, as do major safari companies, travel agencies and restaurants.
Traveler's Cheques can be changed at banks, and are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.
In order to open a bank account you will need your passport. You do not need a permanent address in order to open an account.
Mon-Fri 0900-1500; 0900-1100 on the first and last Saturday of each month. National and international banks have branches in Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, Thika, Eldoret, Kericho, Nyeri and in most other major towns. Banks in Mombasa and the coastal areas open and close half an hour earlier. Many of the banks and bureaux de change at the international airports open 24 hours every day.
Utilities accounts are usually opened and charged in the name of the tenant and bills sent to his PO Box. Telephone must be paid on or before the due date shown on the bill to avoid immediate disconnection and then a reconnection fee. Electricity must be paid within 14 days after the due date on the bill. Water – within 7 days of the due date shown on the bill – the water billing process is currently being made more efficient.
Payment may be made by cheque to Telkom Kenya Limited, and sent by post. Over-the-counter cheque or cash payments are made at any one of the payment centers listed on the bills. International Credit card payment is also accepted. Cash must NEVER be posted. Post-paid bills will arrive in your PO box monthly, but by the time you collect the bill, the due date will have almost arrived, so prompt payment must be made to avoid disconnection. If you will be away when the bill is expected, make sure to leave the Post Box key and enough money to cover the bill with a trusted person, or make an advance payment. Fixed phones may be pre-paid and a calling card used – as with mobiles, this avoids any payment/disconnection problems – arrange with Telkom Kenya for the pre-paid service.
Electricity can be paid for by Standard Bank Visa electron debit cardholders at Standard Bank ATM machines.
Water: A cheque addressed to the City Council or cash has to be delivered to their office. They have no authorized payout points.
Water
In the major cities the water is treated, and you can drink the water after filtering it through a filter. In other places, or if you are on safari, it is recommended to bring bottled water, boil it, or use hydroclonazone tablets.
Malaria
Malaria is a problem in many parts of the country, but not in Nairobi. So, if you are staying in the city, you don't need to use any medication. If you are going out of Nairobi for a longer period it is advised to use some sort of preventive medication. But there is malaria resistance in many parts, so the best prevention is to wear long-sleeved clothes, use mosquito repellent, and sleep under a mosquito net.
Vaccinations
It is required to have a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever, and it is recommended that you be immunized against cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A.
Hospitals
The private hospitals are generally well equipped, and are staffed by personnel of international standards. Government hospitals in all areas suffer from chronic shortages.
There are many international schools where English is the main language for learning (from preschool to University level).
A list of schools is available on the http://www.theexpriate.org
The paved roads are usually full of potholes, and are pretty hard on the vehicle, and many expatriates go for the 4wd cars with high clearance. You rarely need the 4wd, but if you also plan to visit the National Parks on your own, you definitely need the high clearance! Just driving around town it is nice to be seated high so you can overlook the road, and better push your way forward in the peak hours of traffic.
With your car, you should at least have third party coverage. If the car has any value, driving the Kenyan roads, you should consider getting a comprehensive insurance. Most companies will give you a discount if you have an alarm system or a mul-T-Lock installed. Some companies will also give you a discount on your personal car, if they are covering the cars of your company.
It is not recommended to go to ANY small insurance broker in the telephone book. Some insurance companies have a reputation of doing all they can to NOT pay the insurance amount.
Road Assistance
Through Automobile Association of Kenya it is possible to get assistance (24h). Nairobi: 72 03 82 / 72 31 95. Mombasa: (011) 49 24 31.
The public transportation in the major cities is based on buses, and the feared mini-buses, called matatus. Feared because they drive like crazy, and are often involved in accidents. Both kind of buses have numbers and follow certain routes around. Buses come around approx. every 20-30 minutes and stop at designated bus stops, whereas matatus go when they are full of passengers and will stop to pick you up/drop you off wherever you like along the route. In town, buses and matatus are cheap - Ksh. 5 to 50 depending of the distance you are going, and time of day (most expensive during peak hours).
There are several taxi companies around Nairobi, as well as a lot of small one-car enterprises (any car parked with a wooden sign on the roof saying "taxi"). The private cars are cheapest, but in some areas of town and especially in the dark hours, it is recommended to use one of the major companies.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, formerly called Embakasi Airport and Nairobi International Airport, is Kenya's largest aviation facility, and the busiest airport in East and Central Africa. Kenyatta airport is located in Embakasi, a suburb to the south-west of Nairobi, Kenya. The airport is situated 15km from Nairobi's Central Business District, and at the edge of the city's built up area. The Mombasa Highway runs adjacent to the airport, and is the main route of access between Nairobi and the airport.
Groceries can be expensive, slightly above usual US prices. The largest grocery market, Nakumat, is a cross between a Wal-Mart and Safeway. You can find almost anything there, although your basic American products are not as good (ranch dressing, mayo, etc). Fruits and veggies are abundant and yummy.
As Nairobi city centre became more congested, satellite shopping malls with safe parking multiplied in the greater Nairobi area. In addition to the city centre, the shopping centres have a good range of services, including forex bureaux, banks, post offices, pharmacies and supermarkets.
Shopping centres in greater Nairobi include the Sarit Centre in Westlands, the Hurlingham and Yaya centres on Argwings Kodhek Road, Adam's Arcade on Ngong Road, Muthaiga shopping centre (Esso plaza) and Muthaiga Mini Market on Muthaiga Road, Village Market on Limuru Road, ABC on Waiyaki Way, Lavington Green on James Gichuru Road and Karen dukas at the junction of Ngong and Langata roads. The dominant chains of supermarket are Uchumi and Nakumatt. Uchumi has branches in the Sarit Centre, on Ngong Road (before Adams Arcade if heading out of town) and Langata Road (near the Carnivore), while Nakumatt, set back from Uhuru Highway (opposite the Nyayo stadium), is a vast emporium, selling foodstuffs, lifestyle, household and some camping items.
Somewhat conservative. Kenyans wear mostly Western clothes. Men typically wear business suits; women wear long skirts or dresses. However, there is no problem with women wearing pants–and even sleeveless shirts–in Nairobi. On the Coast, women dress more conservatively. After–hours in Nairobi, anything goes.
See the country. Kenya has some of the best parks in East Africa, which can make for good weekend trips. The beaches are beautiful, as well. Fast food is not available, but there are many nice restaurants at affordable prices. Also, a large variety of ethnic foods can be found.
Kenya enjoys a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country.
The country receives a great deal of sunshine all the year round and summer clothes are worn throughout the year. However, it is usually cool at night and early in the morning.
The long rain season occurs from April to June. The short rain season occurs from October to December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and often falls in the afternoons and evenings. The hottest period is from February to March and coldest in July to August.
Immigration/Visas and Permits
Accommodation 
