When Zanzibar introduced compulsory travel insurance for foreign visitors, the decision attracted considerable criticism, with some arguing that it would discourage tourists and make the islands more expensive to visit. Yet Kenya has now moved in a remarkably similar direction - requiring inbound foreign travellers to carry health insurance with benefits worth at least US$50,000. Once again, an old East African saying comes to mind: “When the flute is played in Zanzibar, they dance at the Lakes.” What was criticised yesterday as an unnecessary burden in Zanzibar may now be emerging as a wider regional policy for protecting visitors, public health institutions and taxpayers.
The Kenyan official announcement appears here: Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXVIII - No. 129, Special Issue, 30 July 2026. If that page is blocked on a particular browser, use the official 2026 Gazette index and select No. 129, dated 30 July 2026:Kenya Gazette - 2026 Editions or
The following notes have been compiled from reports and comments circulating on Kenyan social media. The information concerning the new insurance requirement has been verified against the official Kenya Gazette as given above.
"Every foreigner coming to Kenya will now need to show proof of health insurance worth at least $50,000 before they are allowed in.
Kenya has gazetted new Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024, making travel health insurance mandatory for all inbound visitors and setting a minimum insurance cover of $50,000, about Sh6.5 million.
The regulations were published in a Gazette Notice dated July 29, 2026, by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. They are issued under Section 26(6) of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, read together with Regulation 70(2)(b) of the Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024.
Kenya has gazetted new Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024, making travel health insurance mandatory for all inbound visitors and setting a minimum insurance cover of $50,000, about Sh6.5 million.
The regulations were published in a Gazette Notice dated July 29, 2026, by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. They are issued under Section 26(6) of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, read together with Regulation 70(2)(b) of the Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024.
The move marks one of the biggest changes to Kenya’s travel and health policy in years. It brings Kenya in line with a growing number of countries that require visitors to have medical cover before entry.
The rules apply to all “inbound travellers”, people who enter Kenya from another country for a temporary stay.
That includes tourists, business travellers, international students, people visiting friends or relatives, conference delegates, and other foreign visitors. The requirement covers stays of up to 12 months. Visitors planning to stay longer will fall under separate residency and Social Health Insurance Fund registration rules.
The aim, according to the Gazette Notice, is to ensure that international travellers have adequate health coverage while in the country, and to protect Kenya’s public health system from the cost of treating uninsured visitors.
Every mandatory inbound travel health insurance policy must provide a cumulative benefit limit of at least $50,000. The regulations set out a minimum benefit schedule that insurers must meet:
- Medical expenses: up to $20,000 or about Sh2.5 million
- Emergency medical transportation: up to $25,000 or about Sh3.2 million
- Prescribed medicines: up to $300 or about Sh38,818
- Mental health treatment: up to $1,000
- Repatriation of mortal remains: up to $5,000 in the event of death
The benefits are cumulative. That means a policy cannot pay out $20,000 for hospital bills and then stop. It must be able to cover all the categories up to the $50,000 limit.
The regulations restrict sale of the mandatory cover to insurers that are approved and licensed under Kenya’s Insurance Act.
The rules apply to all “inbound travellers”, people who enter Kenya from another country for a temporary stay.
That includes tourists, business travellers, international students, people visiting friends or relatives, conference delegates, and other foreign visitors. The requirement covers stays of up to 12 months. Visitors planning to stay longer will fall under separate residency and Social Health Insurance Fund registration rules.
The aim, according to the Gazette Notice, is to ensure that international travellers have adequate health coverage while in the country, and to protect Kenya’s public health system from the cost of treating uninsured visitors.
Every mandatory inbound travel health insurance policy must provide a cumulative benefit limit of at least $50,000. The regulations set out a minimum benefit schedule that insurers must meet:
- Medical expenses: up to $20,000 or about Sh2.5 million
- Emergency medical transportation: up to $25,000 or about Sh3.2 million
- Prescribed medicines: up to $300 or about Sh38,818
- Mental health treatment: up to $1,000
- Repatriation of mortal remains: up to $5,000 in the event of death
The benefits are cumulative. That means a policy cannot pay out $20,000 for hospital bills and then stop. It must be able to cover all the categories up to the $50,000 limit.
The regulations restrict sale of the mandatory cover to insurers that are approved and licensed under Kenya’s Insurance Act.
This is intended to ensure that only regulated, financially sound companies offer the product, and that claims can be paid promptly. The Ministry of Health is expected to publish a list of approved providers once the implementation framework is finalized.
Industry players had earlier raised concerns about capacity and verification. Some insurers have proposed a joint scheme and a digital certificate that can be checked at airports and border points in real time.
In the Gazette Notice, CS Duale said the policy is meant to guarantee that visitors can access treatment without delay, and to shield Kenyan taxpayers from the financial burden of emergency care for non-citizens.
Hospitals, both public and private, have in the past absorbed costs when uninsured foreigners needed emergency care, evacuation, or repatriation. With international arrivals rebounding, Kenya received 2.08 million tourists in 2023 and 2.39 million in 2024, the government says the risk has grown.
The regulations also align with the broader rollout of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, which replaced NHIF. Kenyans are already required to register with SHIF. Extending a version of it to visitors closes a gap in the system.
The government is working with Immigration and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to integrate insurance verification into the entry process.
Travellers will likely be required to buy the cover before travel or upon arrival, and present a digital certificate. Airlines may be asked to check for proof of insurance at check-in, similar to how eTA approval is currently verified.
The Ministry of Health has indicated that a dedicated portal will be set up for purchase and verification of policies.
Kenya is not the first country to introduce such a rule. Several European countries require travel health insurance for Schengen visas. Tanzania recently proposed a mandatory $44 travel insurance fee for tourists.
The difference in Kenya’s case is the scale of cover. At $50,000, the minimum is significantly higher than flat fees charged elsewhere, reflecting the cost of emergency evacuation, air ambulance services, and repatriation from Kenya.
The timing is important for Kenya’s tourism sector. Tourism earnings hit Sh352.54 billion last year, with average length of stay rising to 12.1 days. The government has also been easing other entry requirements, including eTA exemptions for most African countries.
Industry players say the insurance requirement should not deter visitors if it is priced competitively and the buying process is simple. Travel agents expect insurers and airlines to bundle the cover with tickets, as is common in other markets.
For business travellers, students and conference delegates, the rule adds a new line item to trip budgets. But officials argue that $50,000 in cover provides real protection against the high cost of medical evacuation, which can run into thousands of dollars.
The Gazette Notice brings the regulations into force. Implementation will depend on finalizing the list of approved insurers, launching the verification portal, and training border and airline staff.
The government says the goal is not to make travel harder, but to make it safer for visitors and for Kenya’s health system."
Industry players had earlier raised concerns about capacity and verification. Some insurers have proposed a joint scheme and a digital certificate that can be checked at airports and border points in real time.
In the Gazette Notice, CS Duale said the policy is meant to guarantee that visitors can access treatment without delay, and to shield Kenyan taxpayers from the financial burden of emergency care for non-citizens.
Hospitals, both public and private, have in the past absorbed costs when uninsured foreigners needed emergency care, evacuation, or repatriation. With international arrivals rebounding, Kenya received 2.08 million tourists in 2023 and 2.39 million in 2024, the government says the risk has grown.
The regulations also align with the broader rollout of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, which replaced NHIF. Kenyans are already required to register with SHIF. Extending a version of it to visitors closes a gap in the system.
The government is working with Immigration and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to integrate insurance verification into the entry process.
Travellers will likely be required to buy the cover before travel or upon arrival, and present a digital certificate. Airlines may be asked to check for proof of insurance at check-in, similar to how eTA approval is currently verified.
The Ministry of Health has indicated that a dedicated portal will be set up for purchase and verification of policies.
Kenya is not the first country to introduce such a rule. Several European countries require travel health insurance for Schengen visas. Tanzania recently proposed a mandatory $44 travel insurance fee for tourists.
The difference in Kenya’s case is the scale of cover. At $50,000, the minimum is significantly higher than flat fees charged elsewhere, reflecting the cost of emergency evacuation, air ambulance services, and repatriation from Kenya.
The timing is important for Kenya’s tourism sector. Tourism earnings hit Sh352.54 billion last year, with average length of stay rising to 12.1 days. The government has also been easing other entry requirements, including eTA exemptions for most African countries.
Industry players say the insurance requirement should not deter visitors if it is priced competitively and the buying process is simple. Travel agents expect insurers and airlines to bundle the cover with tickets, as is common in other markets.
For business travellers, students and conference delegates, the rule adds a new line item to trip budgets. But officials argue that $50,000 in cover provides real protection against the high cost of medical evacuation, which can run into thousands of dollars.
The Gazette Notice brings the regulations into force. Implementation will depend on finalizing the list of approved insurers, launching the verification portal, and training border and airline staff.
The government says the goal is not to make travel harder, but to make it safer for visitors and for Kenya’s health system."
N.B.
One important correction should be made inside the reproduced article.
Instead of: “Tanzania recently proposed a mandatory $44 travel insurance fee for tourists.”
It should say: “Zanzibar introduced mandatory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors, currently charged at US$44 per person.”
Zanzibar did not merely “propose” it - it introduced and implemented it. Also, Kenya’s US$50,000 is the minimum value of insurance coverage, not the amount each visitor will pay. The actual premium remains to be determined.
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