Driving Permit for Kenya
Do you need an IDP in Kenya? Kenya is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention. UK licence holders can drive for 3 months, then need a 1968 IDP plus their licence. Kenya drives on the left.
- Drive on
- Left
- Convention
- 1968 Vienna
- IDP validity
- 3 months
- Processing time
- 24-48 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in Kenya?
Kenya drives on the left, and cars are right-hand drive. On paperwork, Kenya acceded to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic on 9 September 2009, and UN treaty records do not list Kenya as a party to the older 1949 Geneva Convention — so the 1968-style International Driving Permit is the version formally recognised here. Most issuers supply both booklets in one pack, so this rarely changes what you order; what matters is that the IDP is genuine and shown alongside your original licence.
An IDP is not a blanket requirement for short stays. The UK FCDO states that a UK photocard licence can be used in Kenya for up to three months, and that after three months you need both the 1968 IDP and your UK licence with you in the car; stay longer and you should get a Kenyan licence. That three-month figure is stated for UK licence holders, so other nationalities should check their own government's guidance. Kenya's Traffic Act (Cap 403) helps at the roadside: section 31(1)(a) expressly names the international driving permit among the credentials evidencing competence to drive, and section 33 sets 18 as the minimum age for a motor-car licence. Rental companies commonly impose stricter conditions than the law.
The Nairobi Expressway is tolled, and its operator accepts an electronic tag, a tap-and-go card, mobile money or cash, so you are not locked into one payment method. Under the Traffic (Drink-Driving) Rules, 2026, ordinary drivers face a limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, while public service, commercial and school transport drivers face a zero limit. The FCDO warns that driving standards are often poor, advises avoiding night driving where possible, and notes that on-the-spot cash fines are illegal — always ask for proper paperwork.
Kenya recognises the IDP under the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Kenya is a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention. In practice, an IDP issued by another signatory country is recognised for your permitted visitor stay — in Kenya, plan on 3 months.
What you need to drive in Kenya
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
Your original national driving licence — the Traffic Act (Cap 403) sets 18 as the minimum age for a motor-car licence in Kenya
A 1968 Vienna Convention IDP — the FCDO tells UK licence holders they need one after 3 months of driving in Kenya
Carry the IDP with your original licence, never instead of it: an IDP supplements a national licence, it does not replace it
Valid vehicle insurance; rental companies set their own minimum age and minimum licence-held period, often stricter than the law
Kenya acceded to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic on 9 September 2009; UN treaty records do not list Kenya as a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Kenya's Traffic Act (Cap 403), section 31(1)(a), expressly names the international driving permit among the credentials evidencing competence to drive.
Under the Traffic (Drink-Driving) Rules, 2026 (Legal Notice 12 of 2026, in force from 13 February 2026), the limit for ordinary drivers is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, and zero for public service, commercial and school transport drivers.
Driving without a valid licence is an offence under section 30 of the Traffic Act; a first conviction carries a fine of up to KSh 20,000 or up to three months' imprisonment.
The FCDO advises avoiding night driving where possible, driving with windows closed and doors locked, and considering convoy travel outside cities and in remote areas.
The Automobile Association of Kenya states it is the only authorised issuer of international driving permits in Kenya.
What to know before you turn the key
Kenya drives on the left — the driver sits on the right, and roundabouts flow clockwise.
Carry your IDP and your original license together — rental desks and police checks will ask for both documents.
Keep your licence and IDP together — the FCDO's guidance is that both must be in the car once you pass the 3-month mark.
The FCDO says on-the-spot fines from traffic police are common but illegal; ask the officer to issue the correct paperwork instead.
The Nairobi Expressway is tolled, but not cashless-only: the operator accepts an electronic tag, a tap-and-go card, mobile money and cash.
Driving without a valid driving licence is an offence under section 30 of the Traffic Act (Cap 403): a first conviction carries a fine of up to KSh 20,000 or up to three months' imprisonment, with higher maximums on a repeat conviction. Driving under the influence beyond the prescribed limits is an offence under section 44(1), punishable by a fine of up to KSh 100,000, up to two years' imprisonment, or both, and the Traffic (Drink-Driving) Rules, 2026 also provide for licence suspension on conviction, rising to revocation for repeat offenders. These are statutory maximums and the actual sentence is for the court to set. Separately, driving without the documents your rental agreement requires can void that agreement and its insurance — often the more expensive consequence. The FCDO warns that on-the-spot fines from traffic police are common but illegal: ask the officer to issue the correct paperwork.
Local rules to watch in Kenya
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Nairobi: heavy congestion. The Nairobi Expressway is tolled and takes an electronic tag, a tap-and-go card, mobile money or cash — the FCDO suggests it or Mombasa Road for airport transfers, rather than the old airport road.
Mombasa Highway: the Government of Canada singles this route out, noting that fatal accidents are common on it.
Maasai Mara and remote northern routes: unpaved sections make a high-clearance 4x4 the practical choice, and park authorities set their own rules on off-road driving — check before you go.
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road Kenya keeps.
Common questions about driving in Kenya
Drive Kenya, confidently.
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