USEFUL INFORMATION

Currency

The unit of currency is the Kenyan shillings (Kshs.). Bank notes are available in all denominations of Kshs 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 while Kshs 1, 5, 10, 20, and 40 are available in coins.

Currency can be exchanged in foreign exchange bureaus or banks. Banks operate between 9am and 3 pm weekdays, and 9am to 11am on the first and last Saturday of the month. The easiest currencies to exchange are the US Dollar, Sterling Pounds and the Euro.

A 16% value added tax is levied on most items, but visitors cannot claim a refund on the levy.

Credit Cards

Major international credit cards are accepted in Kenya and the most automated teller machines (ATM's) accept international VISA and MASTERCARD cards. ATM's are found at airports, bank branches, shopping malls, and petrol stations. Traveler's cheque are probably the best and safest way to bring money with you to Kenya and most hotels and service providers accept them.

Time zone
The standard time zone in Kenya is GMT +3 hours.

Languages

The official language in Kenya is English and the national language is Kiswahili. Most people in the urban areas speak English, while the vast majorities in both the urban and rural areas speak Kiswahili.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN KENYA
In addition to the four international holidays, Kenya has four national holidays.
For public holidays falling on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as the official holiday.

January 1..............................New Year's Day.
Moveable dates...................Good Friday, Easter Monday, end of Ramadhan,
Idd-ul-Fitr

May 1.................................... Labour Day
June 1...................................Madaraka (self rule) day
October 10...........................Moi day
October 20...........................Kenyatta day
December 12......................Uhuru / Jamhuri day (Independence / Republic day)
December 25......................Christmas day
December 26..................... Boxing day
End of Ramadhan, Idd-ul-Fitr-(sight of moon)

DIPLOMATIC MISSION

• Algeria, embasy of muthaiga rd
• Argentina, embassy of kitisuru rd
• Austria embassy of wabera st
• Bagladesh high commission
• Belgium, embassy of muthaiga / limuru rd
• Botswana consulate general
• Brazil embassy of gigiri
• British high commission of upperhill rd
• Bulgaria embassy
• Burundi embassy
• Canadian high commission / haut commissariat du canada
• Chile embassy
• China, embassy of the people's republic of woodlands rd
• Colombia embassy
• Consulate of ireland
• Consulate of madagascar
• Consulate of mauritus
• Costa rica, consulate
• Costa rica consulate general
• Cyprus high commission
• Czech republic embassy
• Danish embassy royal
• Democratic republic of congo, embassy
• Djibouti consulate
• Egyptian embassy for somalia
• Embassy of cuba
• Embassy of eygpt
• Embassy of mexico
• Embassy of the republic of hungary
• Embassy of the republic of indonesia
• Embassy of republic of poland
• Embassy of the republic of turkey
• Embassy of slovakia
• Embassy of spain
• Eritrea, embassy of the state of new rehema hse
• Ethiopian embassy of state hse ave
• European commission delegation in kenya of union house
• Finland, embassy of international house
• French embassy of barclays plaza
• German, embassy of the federal republic of riverside drv
• Greece, embassy of nation centre
• High commission of democratic socialist republic of srilanka
• Hon consulate of seychelles
• Honorary consulate of seychelles
• Honorary consulate of lebanon
• Honorary consulate of liberia
• Honorary consulate republic of cote d'ivore
• Indian high commission
• Korea embassy
• Kuwalt embassy
• Libyan people's bureau
• Malawi high commission-chancery
• Malaysian trade commission
• Morocco, embassy of the kingdom