Working in Nairobi - how is it presently about security there?

Hi am a Kenyan driver here in Nairobi.wish to a sure you that its safe here.police are all over taking care of everything as far as security is concern.

Nairobi is reasonably safe if precautions are taken.  The majority of recent terrorist attacks have been in the poorer parts of the city where westerners are very unlikely to go.  With regard to the larger scale attacks, such as the Westgate Mall, well, there have been similar bombings in London and the UK over the years and the risk of being in that place at that precise time is very low.  Security in Nairobi has been significantly stepped up and you cannot, for example enter a shopping mall without being security screened.

The great majority of secure hotels are in the better areas of the city and with a car and driver at her disposal, I do not think that you have too much to be concerned about.  Unfortunately, western press seem to revel in bringing bad news stories from the African continent and seem to succeed in painting a very dark picture.  The reality is somewhat different though.

In general day to day terms, your wife should avoid walking in the CBD after dark and at any time avoid having expensive jewellery, watches, phones, etc on show.  Also avoid walking around while plugged into an mp3, as many in the UK do.  This reduces your awareness of what is happening around you.  If she goes out in the evenings, her driver should take her to the venue and collect her from it.

I can double what has been said above. I spend about 2-3 months a year in Nairobi and I feel safer there than in certain parts of the US and even the UK.

Let me just add a couple of details. When you're stuck in a traffic jam always make sure the doors are locked (which is usually automatic in newer cars anyway) and also keep the windows rolled up, especially when you're distracted with your mobile. There are a few gangs specialising in theft in jams. One grab and gone...
Avoid ATMs at night. I have heard of muggings where the robbers were in cahoots with the security guards. Doesn't happen often but you don't want to try your luck.

Talking of ATM machines, there are new recent cases of card skimming in town. You know, where the crooks manipulate the machine with a device that reads and sends your card info to someone nearby. It's not a scam specific to Nairobi but this old trick has a revival there. I would avoid those standalone booths outside of shopping centres. I only use ATMs next to or inside a bank.

Pleasant stay.

Hi

Somalia is a different country altogether.

Nairobi is fairly secure in general terms. If she has a safe accommodation and a car with a driver she will be quite secure. Of course in any country, one has to take common sense precautions and that holds true for Nairobi also.

Muggings can happen in New York and Paris too and unlike the US, you don't find teenage gunmen shooting around at random in schools and market places, here in Nairobi. :-)

Cheers!