The shilling is the official currency of Kenya. It was introduced in 1966 replacing the East African shilling.
The Kenyan shilling has the proud reputation of been strongest and most stable currency in East Africa and it is also used in places such as the Sudan and Somalia, which both have very unstable currencies.
The Kenyan shilling was introduced as a symbol of the fact that Kenya was now an independent country, free from its colonial past and as an independent country it was proud to have its own currency. Prior to this introduction, the East African shilling had been the currency in use and this was not exclusively used within Kenya but also Tanzania and Uganda. This had been in circulation since 1921 and Kenya did not have its own currency, which made life difficult in terms of developing its own economy and emerging as a nation in its own right. So, as Kenya emerged as a nation it needed its own currency and the Kenyan shilling was born as a result.
In 2005 a new series of coins was introduced. The coins are issued in terms of 50 cents, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 shilling pieces.
In 2003, new notes were introduced. Notes in current circulation are in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 shillings.
Until 2008, Kenya was perceived to be quite a safe country to travel to and a whole variety of holidays were on offer, from package holidays to independent travel, beach holidays and safaris.
However, since the presidential elections were held and ethnic conflict erupted in January 2008, Britons have been advised against travelling to Kenya unless their journey is essential. Holidays are not considered to be essential travel. The violence has continued, but no foreign nationals have been injured as a result of the local conflict. Anyone wishing to travel to Kenya should check prior to travel whether or not it is safe.
As of May 2008 travellers were still being advised that there would be best to avoid travelling to Kenya due to the risk of unrest. However, the security risk does seem to be decreasing albeit slowly.
After the presidential elections were disputed, some agreement was reached when an agreement to share power was reached between the President and the leader of the main opposition party namely, the Orange Democratic Movement. Unfortunately, this did not completely stop the violence and it has continued, although it is by no means as widespread as in January and February 2008.
In April and May 2008, the violence has taken the form of people (local people) being denounced and then killed as witches. No attacks have been directed towards foreign nationals.
Travellers to Kenya are advised to be very careful whilst in the country and that they should not travel into Kibera, which is a suburb of Nairobi, nor should they go into the Western Province of Nakuru.
Travellers are also reminded that there is a very real risk of violence erupting at any political demonstration or a political rally and as a result these should be avoided. If you do travel to an area and there is a political rally or a demonstration under way, it is simply best to leave the area.
In addition to the political unrest that has recently occurred, travellers should also be aware that Westerners could be at risk from armed car jacking or armed robbery in Nairobi and its surrounding districts. As a result, Westerners should be very careful when out and about in Nairobi and care should be taken at all times, to ensure that you are safe. Advice is also given, that if you are subjected to a robbery, then you should simply hand over your valuables. Refusal to do so may result in violence.
The above information is not meant to deter anyone from visiting Kenya, but if you are thinking of visiting it would be prudent to ascertain whether or not it is safe to travel there and any security issues that you need to take into consideration.
Before you go to Kenya it is always best to ensure that you have different ways that you can access money when in the country. The major towns in Kenya, as well as Nairobi, are well supplied with ATM machines. However, before you travel you should check whether or not your bank card will actually work in an ATM machine in Kenya, since some of them do not.
Traveller's cheques are not readily acceptable in Kenya. You can use a credit card or debit card to pay for items or you can take in US Dollars, British pounds or some Euros and exchange these at banks or exchange centres. Usually the airport banks offer a very low exchange rate, so try to avoid these if you can.
If you are using ATM machines in Nairobi, be aware that the risk of mugging is potentially quite high. As a result it is always best to make photocopies of your documents and leave one set with someone at home and take one copy with you. You should also make sure that you take the telephone number that you would need to contact your bank or credit card provider, if your card is stolen or lost. Otherwise, if it is stolen then it will be extremely time-consuming to sort out.
When in Nairobi it is best not carry large sums of cash or very expensive jewellery, since these may simply act as a temptation for muggers.
Kenya is a big country, with vast areas of wildlife and natural reserves, as well as cities such as Nairobi and lots of quite large towns and then you also have the beaches and the tourist resorts that they can offer, so there is no one single aspect Kenya: it really is a mixture of lots of different things.
Despite the fact that Kenya is actually quite a strong economy within Africa, any traveller should remember that it is still a developing country and that many people here are quite poor. There is also a growing problem caused by the HIV and AIDS crisis. Due to the poverty, Westerners may be seen as very wealthy and travellers are reminded that there is a responsibility to act appropriately, when asked for money or handouts. Sometimes, this situation can be avoided by bartering for items. So if somebody gives you something, then you can give them something of yours. At least this avoids just handing out money to people.
The fact Kenya is such a poor country, means that most things for sale are quite cheap by Western standards. You will pay more in hotels and in the very developed tourist resorts, but lots of other things such as handicrafts, locally made jewellery etc are all very cheap. However, haggling or bartering is commonplace, so it is often expected that you will not pay the price that you initially asked to pay. Haggling is not easy for many Westerners, but it is a local custom.
English is widely spoken within Kenya and so communication will not be a problem, but if possible try to pick up some of the local language.
The food on offer, particularly in Nairobi, is quite cosmopolitan and offers exceptionally good value for money. If you dine in some of the best hotels, then you will pay for the privilege but the food is of excellent. However it is also possible to find lots of interesting cuisine available outside of hotel restaurants. You can even find Brazilian and German food on offer! All you have to do is look around and find somewhere that takes your fancy.
Kenyan beer is also quite good and quite cheap but beware of any local brews such as busaa, which is not just illegal: it could kill you! There are a lot of imported wines available and for those who like something a little bit stronger, spirits are also available but they may be a little bit more expensive, due to being imported.
Safaris are common in Kenya and one of the main reasons that people come here. The parks and reserves that Kenya has to offer are some of the best in the world and they are famous for the range of wildlife to be seen here. This includes elephants, giraffes, lions and the most amazing herds of zebras. In the parks you can also see a fantastic range of flowers and fauna and the scenery really is outstanding. If you are going on safari you should book a tour, with an experienced guide, so that you really get to understand a bit more about animals that you can see. It really does add to the experience.
Beach holidays are of history available on the coast as well as Mombasa. Mombasa in itself is an interesting place to visit because it is the oldest settlement in East Africa as well as being the second city of Kenya. It has some truly spectacular beaches. Generally the beaches are quite safe and as long as you keep an eye on your possessions and do not leave them unattended on the beach, when you go swimming, then the risks are quite low.
Kenya is trying to promote golfing holidays and golf is becoming quite popular. Most of the towns have golf courses and the fees for these can be quite reasonable.
Kenya is a country that is still developing as a nation and find its own identity. As a united nation, it is still a very young country and as such, it is understandable that it may undergo some conflict as the various tribes establish themselves within the country. But this does mean that travel to Kenya should be carefully researched prior to travel, just take basic precautions to ensure that the area you are visiting is safe.
As whole, Kenya welcomes travellers since they can provide much needed money, which can then be used to further stabilise the economy. The problems of violence and robbery are mainly confined to Nairobi, which makes the rest of Kenya much safer.