Kenya's US$44 health cover for foreign visitors draws operator complaints; one operator says seven German tourists cancelled

Foreign visitors to Kenya must buy a government-designated health policy at US$44 (about KSh 5,700, or 296 yuan) per person, and tour operators say some clients are cancelling.

The travel trade publication Tourism Update reported on 15 October that the requirement took effect on 5 October and that operators were frustrated by the rollout. The cover is worth up to US$50,000 per person, including medical expenses, emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains, according to the programme's FAQ, which the African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) posted on 13 October. The FAQ says visitors must buy the Kenyan policy even if they hold comprehensive travel insurance from their home country.

Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July, signed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, sets the minimum cover for non-Kenyans staying less than 12 months.

On 7 August, the Ministry of Health said travellers whose home-country insurance met the required value should upload proof of it to the Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system instead of buying a new policy, the Kenyan news site Kenyans.co.ke reported.

The FAQ exempts Kenyan citizens and residents, citizens of East African Community partner states and children under three, among other groups. Other visitors buy the policy through the eTA process and eCitizen or, on arrival, by scanning a designated QR code. The eCitizen insurance page describes the cover as tied to the eTA for non-African travellers to Kenya. The visa information site VisasNews said checkout in its own tests came to US$52 per traveller, including a US$1 access fee.

Dr Sam Ikwaye, executive officer of the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast Region and chairman of the Mombasa Tourism Council, named the requirement as an immediate concern, as quoted by the Daily Nation. He said operators are reporting booking cancellations, extra travel costs and difficulty with insurance documents. Many international visitors already hold comprehensive medical insurance, he said, and the government could review the rule.

Abraham Guyo, company manager at Africa Last Minute Ltd, said seven international tourists from Germany had cancelled their trips and that other industry players had reported further cancellations. “It is sham, a useless insurance,” he said of the requirement. He said it is unclear whether visitors with adequate existing cover can upload their documents when applying for an eTA, and he urged President William Ruto to meet tourism stakeholders.

Mohanjeet Brar, managing director of Gamewatchers and Porini Camps, said, as quoted by Tourism Update: “The challenge is how it was implemented. It came in very abruptly without proper communication.” Some clients first encountered the requirement while applying for eTAs, he said. He objected to travellers having to buy extra cover rather than submit existing policies for verification, and said the government needs to provide data on the healthcare costs it is trying to address.

Nicanor Sabula, chief executive of the Kenya Association of Travel Agents, said operators need at least three months' notice of new requirements, particularly for trips already paid for. “In some cases, the operator may have to absorb those costs,” he said. He warned that every additional charge risks making Kenya less competitive in an increasingly crowded global tourism market.

Virginia Messina, group chief executive of ATTA, said operators with groups booked for October, November and later in the year are uncertain how the requirement will affect existing reservations. New regulations need to be communicated clearly and early enough for the industry to prepare, she said.

Vanessa Dean, head of product and experience at Mahlatini Luxury Travel, said she expects little effect on bookings, citing a similar requirement in Zanzibar. Her company will continue to recommend comprehensive personal travel insurance alongside the mandatory cover.

Kenya received 2.7 million international visitors in 2025, earning KSh 500 billion, according to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, who has set a target of 5.5 million a year by 2028. Dr Ikwaye said the target is achievable but needs closer coordination between the government and the private sector.