Kenya has introduced mandatory travel health insurance for most foreign visitors, requiring inbound travellers to obtain medical coverage of at least US$50,000 before entering the country. The new requirement is part of the country’s efforts to strengthen healthcare protection for international visitors and reduce the financial burden of medical emergencies.
The directive was published in the Kenya Gazette on July 30, 2026, under Gazette Notice No. 11492, pursuant to the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, and the Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024.
According to the gazette notice issued by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, all mandatory inbound travel health insurance policies must provide a cumulative benefit limit of not less than US$50,000.
The regulations outline the minimum benefits that must be included in the insurance package. These include US$20,000 for medical expenses, US$25,000 for emergency medical transportation, US$300 for prescribed medicines, US$1,000 for mental illness treatment, and US$5,000 for the repatriation of mortal remains.
The government stated that the mandatory travel health insurance must be provided only by insurers approved and licensed under Kenya’s Insurance Act, Cap. 487.
The move is expected to ensure that visitors have adequate financial protection while in Kenya, particularly in cases of accidents, sudden illness, or other medical emergencies requiring hospitalization or evacuation.
The policy aligns Kenya with a growing number of countries that require international visitors to obtain travel medical insurance before entry. Such measures have become increasingly common as governments seek to safeguard national healthcare systems while ensuring tourists receive prompt medical care without placing additional pressure on public resources.
The new regulation is expected to affect leisure tourists, business travellers, conference delegates and other eligible foreign visitors entering Kenya, who will now need to present proof of compliant travel health insurance before being admitted into the country. The implementation is also likely to influence travel planning, with airlines, tour operators and travel agents expected to advise travellers of the new requirement before departure.
