Overview 

With a surface area of 580,000 km², Kenya is one of the largest countries in the region — roughly the size of Texas. It borders the Indian Ocean in the east, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan in the north, Uganda in the west, and Tanzania in the south. The kind of climate you have to prepare for when moving to Kenya strongly depends on where in the country you will live, work, and call home.

The coastal plain— where, for instance, Mombasa is located — is definitely tropical. Kenya’s interior features a sub-tropical climate that gets cooler and more moderate in the highlands, e.g. in Nairobi, the capital. The northern areas consist of arid steppe. However, few expats ever go there unless, for example, they are humanitarian workers aiding refugees from Somalia.

If you do not speak Kiswahili, the official lingua franca of multi-ethnic Kenya, don’t worry. English is the second working language of the nation, particularly among the urban population. This is a definite bonus for expats who want to feel at home living in Kenya’s local and expat communities in Nairobi and Mombasa. 

Health Insurance and Health Care in Kenya

KEMSA (Kenya Medical Supplies Authority) is the government-run organisation that supplies most of the medical equipment and medication to these pharmacies. Nurses are the ones who manage these facilities and offer the most fundamental outpatient services for simple diseases such as flu, colds, skin conditions and the initial treatment of malaria.

If the nurses at the pharmacy cannot handle a problem, the patient will be transferred to a medical centre. A clinical officer runs and manages state-run medical centres. These healthcare facilities in Nairobi offer primary care and principally deal with preventative care such as vaccinations. However, they are unlikely to reach its target when it comes to curative treatment. Complex cases may be transferred to a government district or provincial hospital.

In Kenya, the majority of expatriates prefer using private medical amenities. The medical expense is far higher than that at public hospitals, the service quality is superior and physicians are frequently more well-trained. In contrast, the levels of hygiene and equipment quality are better as well. 

There is a broad network of private medical amenities from small local clinics to well-established hospitals, especially in Mombasa and Nairobi. Daily treatment is affordable, however, patients without international private medical insurance may need to make a large payment out of pocket.

It is highly recommended that expats residing in Kenya purchase private health insurance so that they are protected for more complicated medical processes and costly evacuations. Some expatriates look outside the country for assistance for any serious operations. South Africa is commonly considered as possessing the most superior health care amenities on the African continent and is the typical destination for emergency medical evacuation.

Despite not being legally necessary, international private health insurance is highly recommended for expats in Kenya. If you don’t have it, medical costs are just as pricey as in countries in the West and covering the costs for emergency care and particularly medical evacuation – out of pocket can be impossible. 

Frequently, employers sending expats to Kenya will offer insurance. In the case that they do not, appropriate coverage should be set up prior to the arrival. When purchasing health insurance in Kenya, expatriates must be mindful of the terms of their coverage. A comprehensive policy is the most suitable.

Travel Insurance in Kenya

From cosmopolitan capital Nairobi to the beautiful white, sandy beaches along the Mombasa coast, Kenya has it all. And, as an expat living in Kenya, you can expect to enjoy all this and much more.

Kenya is one of the world’s leading safari destinations, one of the cheapest countries in Africa in terms of cost of living, and consistently ranks as one of the best countries in Africa to become an expat. 

In terms of street safety, expats living in Kenya need to practice high level of caution due to the high level of serious crime. Muggings, armed robbery as well as murders are common in some areas of Kenya. Expats should also be cautious while traveling by car due to the high frequency of car jackings in Kenya.

Life Insurance in Kenya

Expat life insurance Kenya is something that everyone with a young family should look at. It is often the case that the main income generator for expat families in Kenya is one person so the impact on the family should a death occur to this person is potentially catastrophic.

Life insurance in Kenya can allow you to cherish your years more easily without the stress brought on worrying about what will happen to your loved ones after your death. Life Insurance in Kenya will bring additional peace of mind as you take on a new life with new challenges to face.