Nairobi - Post Report Question and Answers
What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
Electric cars are just starting to appear here and I've only noticed one charger (in a gas station) ever. You will be best served with a right hand drive, 4WD, high clearance SUV. Either diesel or petrol is fine. The roads in Nairobi are surprisingly bad for its state of development otherwise, and there are many speed bumps and potholes along with some dirt roads even in the city, and many poorly maintained tarmac or dirt roads when you are traveling elsewhere in the country. During the rainy season, flooding is an issue both in Nairobi and outside. We have heard of some people's car parts being stolen when they are parked, and it's common to use locking nuts on hubcaps and locks on spare tires. You don't need to be obsessive about it, but use good sense about where you park your car. If you are coming with a partner and/or family, it may make sense to have two cars. - Jan 2025
answer - Mar 2024
I highly recommend an SUV as roads can be bad here. We do know people with regular cars and vans, but if they are going to drive outside the normal circuit they typically have an SUV as well. People often sell their cars when they leave, so we bought used and have been happy with it. Getting around when you first get here can be quite stressful, and I wouldn't have wanted to wait months for my new car to arrive. - Mar 2024
SUV with high clearance! Between unmarked speed bumps (which are everywhere), potholes, crumbling roads, flooding, and whenever you might want to go out of town, no other car would hold up. - Aug 2023
