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Kenya (KE)

Kenya is East Africa's economic, tech, and diplomatic powerhouse — home to the United Nations' Africa headquarters, the Silicon Savannah startup ecosystem, and some of the world's most iconic wildlife.

Capital: Nairobi
Region: Africa
Language: Swahili
Currency: KES (Ksh)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 30)
Emergency: 999
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Emergency Numbers

Save these numbers before you need them.

General Emergency
999
Police
999
Fire Brigade
999
Ambulance
999
Poison Control
+254 20 2726300 (Nairobi Hospital Poison Information Centre)
Mental Health
Befrienders Kenya (crisis support): +254 722 178 177. Mathare Hospital crisis line: +254 20 2012000. International SOS (for expats with cover): +254 20 4296000.
Domestic Violence
Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC): +254 719 638 006 (24/7, free)
Child Protection
ChildLine Kenya: 116 (free, 24/7)
Road Assistance
AA Kenya (Automobile Association): +254 20 6000340. Most car hire and insurance companies provide 24/7 roadside assistance numbers.

Aga Khan University Hospital Emergency

+254 20 3662000

For non-emergency medical care outside clinic hours, private hospital emergency departments are the most reliable option for expats. Aga Khan, Nairobi Hospital, and MP Shah all have 24/7 A&E departments with English-speaking staff.

24 hours, 7 days a week

How to call emergency services in Kenya

For 999: works from any phone including mobile without credit. State your location (neighbourhood, landmark, estate name — GPS addresses rarely used), type of emergency, and your contact number. Police response in Nairobi CBD: 10–20 minutes. Response times in estates and outside cities can be 30–60+ minutes — private ambulance (AMREF Flying Doctors, AAR) is often faster for medical emergencies.