The information that you are about to read is not meant to frighten or 'put you off' visiting Kenya. It is merely a simple guide of do's and don'ts.

My name is Nikki Roberts and I lived in Kenya for five years. I have had the most amazing experiences during that time but sadly also some traumatic ones. I want to help you to have a wonderful time on your travels.

The Jewel of East Africa

Kenya is a truly beautiful destination which caters for every taste. From wild adventurous safaris, lazy days on the beach to very active mountain climbing it has something to offer to everyone.

For those who are merely going on a package holiday then you will probably need to know only the do's and don'ts of this site (please see the relevant page) and most of the information below won't be applicable. However if you are thinking of moving to Kenya to live, or you are going for a long term visit, please read on as it is imperative that you have full knowledge before making this move.

Scams

To live in Kenya on a permanent basis successfully you will need a number of things... money, patience and common sense. You will also have to be incredibly street wise.  If you think you can do this on a shoestring please think again. NOTHING is simple or straightforward there. To even obtain correct paperwork to reside or work in Kenya will cost far more than the 'official' fee. It will likely cost four times the amount you are told, this is due to bribes. If you try to do things the 'British' way you will be waiting years to get the paperwork. This is simply the way that things are done over there. This applies to any paperwork from a driver's license to any papers for a business or buying a property. This brings me to the subject of buying a property. I cannot emphasise this enough. Check, check and check again before buying. The main scam in Kenya with buying a property is that the person who sells you the house / land doesn't actually own it. In fact the local council, your Kenyan 'friends' and your lawyer (if you have one) may well be involved in the scam themselves. Even documents can be forged.  You also may find that there will be anything between 1-5 people who have 'bought' the same land / property as you!! They will also be in the same predicament.

If you have a friend over there who professes to be able to guide you through any business, land deal or paperwork, please be very cautious. He may seem like the kindest most trustworthy person you may have met but whatever deal you do he will probably be taking a cut from it. He will see no wrong in this. It is simply the way that things are done. Even if you pay him a fee to set any deal up he will still take a cut.

If your local friend / boy / girl friend gets themselves arrested, it is very likely to be a scam. The friend themselves may or may not be in on the scam but it will be very difficult for you to find out the truth. The police know that a European will pay money to get a friend released from jail and they know how to put the frighteners into you. The arrest is likely to be arranged for this purpose. The friend could be involved or sometimes is also a victim of the police corruption. One of the excuses used for arrest is marijuana possession. They will make the whole thing seem lawful and legitimate and they will probably make out that they are helping you out by offering another option which will likely be bribes in order for the friend to be released.

There are in fact so many scams that they are too numerous to mention. This is why I have said that if you plan to move to Kenya you need to have street smarts. While I lived in Kenya there was NOT A SINGLE SOUL I met whom had not been scammed in one way or another even the locals themselves had fallen victim to their fellow Kenyans.

Beware, you have been warned.

After saying all that, there ARE people who can be trusted but they are VERY few and far between. This is a third world country and they will do what they have to in order to survive. Including marrying a foreigner with the sole intention of getting a better standard of life and moving abroad, the marriage is likely to end in failure although there have been some exceptions.

Kenya is a beautiful and wonderful place to visit with many unique experiences waiting for you to enjoy, but please go into the experience with your eyes wide open to the possible dangers and pitfalls.

If you have any questions you wish to ask me regarding Kenya including my knowledge of some of the coastal resorts and towns please feel free to email me at kenyatravel@ntlworld.com

I have been filmed for a documentary about my experiences in Kenya. Some of these experiences included being unlawfully arrested so that during my incarceration my nightclub business was stolen by a local magistrate and beaten while held in the Kenya prison. I caught Malaria five times and I had my nightclub sound system conned from me by another European (long term resident in Kenya) There were also many other things too numerous to mention. 

This documentary will be shown on Channel Five and Discovery Channel later this year. I will post the exact date once I know it myself.

Not all bad!

On the upside, I also had the opportunity to stroke and play with a wild cheetah and traveled extensively through all of the national parks including the Masai Mara. Running a business is also very much cheaper in Kenya. I myself was very naive when I moved there and this is my basic reason for publishing this web site....to warn others of the possible pitfalls.

Happy traveling!