Health
Visitors from the Far East, Central America, South, Central and West Africa may be required to have valid certificates of inoculation against yellow fever and cholera.

Visas
All visitors to Kenya are required to have valid passports. Visas are also required for visitors. It is advisable for the visitors to check visa requirements through airlines, tour operators or Kenya tourist offices, Kenyan embassies or High Commissions in their countries before coming.

Dress
Visitors should not walk in towns or public areas in their swim-wear as this is against African culture and offends a large section of the community. Nude bathing is not allowed. Kenyans appreciate decent behaviour devoid of immoral tendencies. Visitors are therefore advised to show respect to the local people, their culture and traditions.

Customs
You may bring personal effects like binoculars, cameras and films temporarily into the country without a permit. Consumables in small amounts of one litre of alcohol, a quarter litre of perfume, 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes or quarter kilogram of tobacco will be allowed duty free. Obscene literature is not allowed. Pets accompanied by a recent health certificate and special permission from the Commissioner of Customs will be allowed. These are, however, not allowed into national parks/reserves. Firearms cannot be imported without an import certificate from the Central Firearms Bureau.

Respect for Authority
Visitors are expected to show respect to the Head of State and other leaders or uniformed officials of the Public Service. Tearing or burning the Presi-dent's portrait is an offence. Avoid infringing the laws especially  traffic regulations and the laws against prostitution, sexual abuse and taking or trafficking in drugs. However, chewing of a locally grown shrub called miraa, a mild stimulant reputed to keep chewers active and awake throughout the night is allowed.

Accommodation
All major towns have hotels or lodges ranging from high international standards to simple inexpensive holiday hotels. In addition, there are tourist lodges in nearly all major national parks and reserves in the country. The accommodation charges vary with the seasons, group and corporate rates.

Currency
Kenya's currency is based on the decimal system. The unit is the Kenya Shilling, divided into 100 cents. Coins are of  50 cents and of  KSh. 1, 5, 10 and 20. Notes are of Kshs 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000. There are no restrictions on the movement of currency into or out of Kenya for current transactions. Travellers can bring into or take out of Kenya currency notes up to the equivalent of US Dollars 5,000 and Kshs 100,000 without making a customs declaration. Currency notes in excess of the above amounts can still be brought in or taken out of Kenya upon making a declaration. It is illegal to mutilate Kenya currency notes.

Parks and Reserves
Kenya has 26 national parks and 29 national reserves. All of them occupy a total area of 44,359 sq. kilometres or 7.5% of the total area of the Republic (582,644 sq. kilometres). They range from marine national parks, savannah-bush woodland national parks, mountain national parks, arid and semi-arid national parks, to lake ecosystem national parks/reserves. Rare and fascinating species abound in Kenya. They include the high altitude bongo, a rare forest antelope to giant sea turtles and the unique dugong, origin of the mermaid legend.

Hunting and Game Trophies
Hunting and trafficking in game trophies is banned in Kenya. Export of live animals, birds and reptiles is also banned except by a licensed professional dealer with special permission from the Director of Kenya Wildlife Services. However, there is a beautiful souvenir market in local handicraft - wood and stone sculpture -, beadwork, painting and drawing, basketry, wearing apparel and jewellery. It is an offence to photograph the national flag, the President, state lodges, soldiers, prisons, convicts and military barracks. However, photographers find a paradise of colourful birds, beautiful people and magnificent scenery all embellished in regular sunshine. Always ask for permission before photographing the local people.

Departures
In addition to other security checks, customs officers may weigh and inspect all outgoing baggage. Departing travellers are therefore required to identify their baggage for inspection by the customs officers. Airport departure tax (US $20) is payable on departure. There are duty-free shops at both Nairobi and Mombasa airports.

The Government
Under the Constitution, legislative power is vested in Parliament. Parliament consists of a President and a National Assembly, which in itself  comprises the Speaker, the Attorney-General, 210 elected members of the Assembly and 12 nominated members. The life of the Assembly is five years and members are elected by universal adult suffrage.

Executive power lies with the President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The Cabinet serves as the policy making body of the Executive. Its decisions - if they do not require legislative approval - are carried out by individual ministers and their ministries. As cabinet members they draft the legislation to be presented to the National Assembly. 

The Bill of Rights in the Constitution provides for a strong and detailed protection of fundamental rights and freedom of the individual. Both substantive and procedural rights are affirmed, as are traditional political and civil liberties.

The Judiciary is independent of both the Executive and the Legislature. The Chief Justice and the judges of the Court of Appeal are appointed by the President. All other judges are appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.