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Cross-border route

Somalia Kenya

Driving across the border
Yes — you can drive from Somalia into Kenya: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. Kenya expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the 1968 Vienna Convention format. Important: Somalia drives on the right and Kenya drives on the left, so the side of the road changes at the border — take extra care. Plan your border crossing in advance and keep your passport, national licence and IDP together.
⚠ Driving side changes at the border: Somalia drives on the right, Kenya on the left.

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance
FromSomalia
ToKenya
IDP in KenyaStrongly recommended
Accepted format1968 Vienna
Driving sideChanges (right → left)
Currency in KenyaKES
Emergency number999 or 112
Top speed limit110 km/h highways
Driving in Kenya
SomaliaKenya

Crossing the border

Somalia and Kenya share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.

Driving rules in Kenya

  • Drive on the left.
  • Carry licence, IDP and passport.
  • Wildlife and pedestrians near roads.
  • Police checkpoints are routine.

What to see when you arrive in Kenya

  • the Maasai Mara National Reserve
  • Amboseli National Park with Kilimanjaro views
  • Lake Nakuru's flamingos
  • the beaches of Diani and Mombasa
  • Nairobi National Park

Once you're driving in Kenya

Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.

Driving on a foreign licence

A valid foreign licence printed in English (or Swahili) lets a tourist drive for up to the 90-day visitor period; if the licence is in any other language an International Driving Permit is required, and police checks expect both the IDP and original licence.

Tolls & road charges

Kenya's main toll is the Nairobi Expressway (Mlolongo-JKIA-Westlands), priced by entry/exit pair from about KES 170 up to KES 500 for a car; pay cash at manual lanes or use an ETC tag, while most other highways are toll-free.

Parking in the cities

Nairobi CBD parking requires a county daily parking fee (payable via the county M-Pesa paybill or attendants); unpaid or wrongly parked cars are clamped or towed, and guarded private lots are safer.

Fines & camera enforcement

Speeding, seatbelt and phone offences draw fines under the Traffic Act; if stopped, always insist on an official receipt and the cited section rather than paying roadside, and ask to go to a police station if pressured.

If you have an accident

Call 999 or 112 for police and ambulance; report the accident and obtain an OB (Occurrence Book) number at the nearest police station, which insurers require, and never offer cash to officers as bribery is illegal.

Driving in the capital

Nairobi traffic is intense with roundabouts replacing many lights and unpredictable matatu minibuses; corridors like Mombasa Road, Thika Road and Waiyaki Way jam badly at peak hours.

Sources: icabs.co.ke · tollguru.com · globalpetrolprices.com · internationaldrivingpermit.org

Common questions

01
Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from Somalia to Kenya?
Yes — Kenya commonly asks foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their national licence. Kenya recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.
02
Does the driving side change between Somalia and Kenya?
Yes. Somalia drives on the right and Kenya drives on the left. Adjust carefully once you cross the border.
03
What is the emergency number and speed limit in Kenya?
In Kenya, dial 999 or 112 for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 110 km/h highways, but posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.
04
How do tolls and road charges work in Kenya?
Kenya's main toll is the Nairobi Expressway (Mlolongo-JKIA-Westlands), priced by entry/exit pair from about KES 170 up to KES 500 for a car; pay cash at manual lanes or use an ETC tag, while most other highways are toll-free.
05
How quickly can I get an IDP for this trip?
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