Nairobi, Kenya Report of what it's like to live there - 08/12/26
Personal Experiences from Nairobi, Kenya
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
No, I have previously lived in South America and Europe.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Canada. Most flight from Nairobi to get home are via Europe (London, Paris, Frankfurt as the typical hubs for connecting flights). Usually it's 20ish hours of travel, but only eight hours of jet lag.
3. What years did you live here?
2023-2025.
4. How long have you lived here?
Two years.
5. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Diplomatic mission.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Low-rise apartment, although most expats seem to be in houses. Commute times vary greatly depending on what neighbourhood you're in. Can be as short as five min and as long as 45-55 min.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Local products are inexpensive, especially local produce and other food products. Imported items are very expensive. Kenyan food traditionally is quite meat-heavy and there are few local dishes that are truly vegetarian; that said, lots of Indian (and other) restaurants offer vegetarian options.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Sports equipment (including golf gear), electronics (phones, laptops), basically anything imported but especially big ticket items.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Food delivery: Glovo. Restaurants: Decent variety, including some higher-end/finer dining places. Lots of Indian restaurants as well due to the large Kenyan Asian population.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Flying termites (twice per year, seems to be a seasonal thing), ants and Sykes monkeys.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
All via diplomatic mail.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Widely available and highly affordable. Having a cook, a cleaner, a nanny, are all much more affordable than in Canada. For basic cleaning, a housekeeper might cost around 2000-2500 KES per day.
3. Do you feel that it is safe to walk, run or hike outside? Are there areas where bike riding is possible? What is the availability and safety of outdoor space for exercising? Are these easily accessible?
Depends on the neighbourhood. Street lighting is inconsistent (and often missing altogether) so some streets get extremely dark at night and it's hard to see. Biking and hiking in Karura Forest is very accessible. Otherwise, sidewalk infrastructure isn't great for running, but do-able in daytime if you're the super committed runner type.
4. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
Lots! Swimming pools, pickleball courts, tennis courts, golf courses, padel courts, badminton courts, soccer pitches (including smaller turf fields for futsal), gyms, rounders, cricket - you name it. Even a hockey rink (Panari). Some expats hired a private trainer or boxing coach at an affordable rate. Expats with kids at ISK can use some of the sports facilities there, which are very high-quality. For outdoor/trail running and biking on trails, Karura Forest is excellent.
5. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards are sometimes (not always) accepted. Your best bet is M-PESA; better and more widely accepted than cash.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
English gets you very far. It's not uncommon for locals to speak two to three languages (with English not being their native tongue) and for some, especially from outside the city, their English may not be the strongest. But usually it's enough that you can communicate for what you need. Picking up a few Swahili phrases and greetings can be helpful for building good rapport with locals.
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Probably yes due to the gaps in infrastructure, including non-existent sidewalks let alone wheelchair ramps in many areas
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Local matatus (private vans, in absence of a truly public transit system) are not safe. Taxis hailed from the side of the street are also not safe. Uber is safe; I recommend upgrading to Uber Comfort to guarantee a working seatbelt and a car door that actually locks. Inter-city trains are safe and first-class tickets are quite affordable (and worth the cost) on an expat salary. Domestic flights are also a popular and convenient way to get around between cities, e.g. from Nairobi to the coast.
2. What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
SUV with 4-wheel drive that can handle driving through uneven terrain and the occasional flooding. If you're planning to take your vehicle on self-drive safaris or off-road, make sure it's up to the task. Many colleagues also enjoyed riding a motorbike in and around Nairobi.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes, we went with Zuku and it was affordable and reliable 99% of the time.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Local provider. Safaricom is an easy option; they can set up both your SIM card and M-PESA in one visit.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Depends on the job of course, but generally business casual with a hint of local dress (very colourful textiles).
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Terrorism is a real threat. Petty theft and cybercrimes (including M-PESA scams) are also risks.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
For major (and even some minor) surgeries, MEDEVAC to South Africa or the UK are recommended. That said, I know two expats who gave birth in Nairobi and had OK experiences. Due to the high altitude, malaria is not a concern in Nairobi (although it is in other parts of Kenya).
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Decently good, especially if you live by Karura Forest. Poor air quality is mainly driven by periodic garbage burning.
4. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Perfect weather year-round. Daily maximum is in the high twenties (Celsius), daily minimum is around 15 Celsius. You don't need heating or air conditioning in your home, just be smart about when you open/close your windows and you can do a decent job of regulating the temperature inside your home just fine. August tends to be colder. There are also two rain seasons and two dry seasons in the year. Compared to other places I've been posted, I found Kenyans to be very vocal about climate change concerns and this might be influenced by the city being the headquarters of UNEP.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
Families whose kids went to ISK seem to really love it. The facilities are excellent.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Very large. Nairobi is a huge hub for diplomatic missions (for example, many countries have an embassy in Nairobi that covers several other countries in Eastern Africa from there). Plus it's a UN headquarters city and is home to many UN agencies, including UNEP and UN Habitat. The community took a hit recently due to USAID cuts and similar cuts to various UN agencies/programs, but is still quite sizeable. Morale is generally quite good within the expat community and it's easy to meet others with similar interests.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Meet up groups, hiking groups (Instagram has tons), playing sports, signing up for events like running races or biking races.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Good for everyone, although can be hard for dating in particular for LGBT folks.
4. Is it easy to make friends with locals here? Are there any prejudices or any ethnic groups who might feel uncomfortable here?
Yes, somewhat. Although differences in income class and language skills can sometimes be a barrier. Kenyans are very, very (genuinely) friendly people - I think the best way to make local friends is via groups that share common interests (for example, join a hiking group with locals) or through work. There are some prejudices between ethnic groups in Kenya.
There is also a tendency by some locals to view expats (especially white expats - "muzungus") as wealthy, which can lead to what started as a friendly relation turning suddenly awkward or uncomfortable when the expat is asked to give money. There are instances of some locals faking a family emergency or other crisis to try and get money from their expat contacts/acquaintances/clients.
5. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
Kenya has a lot of ethnic and religious diversity, including through incoming waves of migration from neighboring countries. Kenya is divided by tribes, and tribal divisions were historically very important although less so for the younger generation (for example, inter-tribal marriages are now a lot more common than they used to be). That said, Kenyan Asians (from India/Pakistan) very rarely mix with Black Kenyans, despite both groups living in the same territory for generations. There are even certain secluded neighbourhoods only for specific groups within the Kenyan Asian community where non-members (including Black Kenyans) are not allowed to live. I found this quite shocking to witness.
6. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
The weather is perfect for playing sports outdoors! The safaris are great, as is the hiking. Personal favourite is renting an AirBnB by Lake Naivasha for a very relaxing long weekend escape out of the city.
7. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Hiking in Mount Satima and Dragon's Teeth.
8. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Yes, absolutely. Masai Markets are an option; however, I recommend Spinner's Web for high-quality handicrafts without any of the haggling.
9. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
The weather is fantastic; relatively few mosquitoes; high-morale expat community; and friendly locals.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
How great (and affordable) the golf scene would be. Had I known, I would have learned to golf earlier!
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Yes, absolutely. Not forever (personally), but it's a lovely place to spend 2-4 years at a time.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
Anti-malarial meds (you won't need them in Nairobi!)
4. But don't forget your:
Sunscreen (UV index at high altitude is no joke!) and binoculars.
5. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
Go to the National Museum of Nairobi and pay a local guide to give you a tour.
6. Do you have any other comments?
Nairobi is a great introductory post for folks who have never lived in Sub Saharan Africa before.
