Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Kenya
This guide explains what happens after a death in Kenya, who to contact, and how to arrange for your loved one to be brought home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country. Facts for British nationals come from FCDO and government sources. Every situation is different, and if you would like us to take over the arrangements, send us the details.
Typical timeline
14-28 days
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
Safari Deaths: Getting to Nairobi First
Kenya’s safari industry is the defining context for British deaths in the country. The Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu, and the Laikipia plateau attract thousands of British visitors each year. Deaths in these locations – whether from natural causes, a vehicle incident, or occasionally a wildlife event – all share one characteristic: the death occurred far from Nairobi, and Nairobi is where everything must happen.
For deaths in the Masai Mara, the first challenge is internal transport. There are small bush airstrips across the reserve, and light aircraft charter is the fastest route to Nairobi Wilson Airport. Charter availability depends on weather, time of day, and the specific reserve. Road transport is an alternative but adds many hours. All of this happens before any documentation can begin.
Nairobi Is the Processing Hub for Everything
All documentation, all IATA-specification coffin sourcing, and all international cargo flights depart from Nairobi. There are no alternative routes. The British High Commission is in Nairobi. The pathologists capable of post-mortem examinations meeting international standards are in Nairobi. IATA-spec zinc-lined coffins are available in Nairobi; outside the capital, availability is limited.
For deaths in Mombasa and the coastal resort area, the transport to Nairobi step still applies for international repatriation, though some documentation can begin locally.
Port Health Clearance: An Additional Step
Kenya requires Port Health clearance – a freedom from infection certificate – before a body can be released for international transport. This is an additional bureaucratic step not required in many European destinations. Processing time in Nairobi is typically two to five days. Outside Nairobi, it can take longer. Your repatriation coordinator should factor this into the timeline from the outset.
Police clearance is also required for all deaths. For natural deaths in hospital, this is straightforward. For deaths in the field, on safari, or in any circumstances involving an accident, police attendance and documentation adds time before any other step can begin.
Kenya Airways and British Airways: Good Connectivity From Nairobi
Once all Kenyan documentation is complete, repatriation logistics from Nairobi are among the better-connected of any African destination. Kenya Airways and British Airways both operate direct Nairobi-London routes, providing reliable cargo capacity. The 14-28 day timeline reflects the documentation and internal transport complexity, not the final airfreight step, which is efficient.
Sources: FCDO Kenya guidance (updated October 2025); British High Commission Nairobi guidance; Kenya National Bureau of Statistics death registration procedures.
First things first
What to do in the first 24 hours
The immediate period after a death abroad is disorienting. Here are the steps in the order they normally need to happen.
Contact local emergency services
Contact emergency services (999 or 112). If death occurs outside hospital, police must attend. The police arrange removal to a mortuary. Contact the British High Commission in Nairobi.
Local emergency number: 999 or 112
Contact the embassy or consulate
Tell the embassy or consulate of your loved one's own country as soon as possible. It can register the death, give you a list of local funeral directors and explain what the local authorities will need.
British nationals, FCDO 24hr: +44 (0)20 7008 5000
Appoint a local funeral director
A local funeral director in Kenya will take care of the body, arrange embalming, obtain the necessary documents, and coordinate with airlines. The embassy can recommend accredited directors. You can also contact a specialist UK repatriation company, who will coordinate with a local partner on your behalf.
Contact your travel insurer
If your loved one had travel insurance with repatriation cover, contact the insurer immediately. They will often have an emergency assistance line and may appoint their own funeral director. Many policies cover the full cost of repatriation, subject to the limit set out in the policy schedule.
Gather the required documents
Repatriation from Kenya requires specific paperwork before a body can be transported. Your local funeral director will handle most of this.
- Kenyan death certificate
- Embalming certificate
- Freedom from infection certificate from Port Health
- Passport of deceased (or copy)
- Police report/clearance
- Burial permit (required even for repatriation)
- Airline cargo documentation
Documentation typically takes 7-21 days to complete.
What the embassy can do
What the embassy cannot do
What to expect
How long does it take?
Factors that can extend the timeline
- Safari/remote area death requires internal transport to Nairobi
- Police investigation and clearance can be slow
- Death certificate processing varies by district
- Port Health clearance adds a step
- Kenyan public holidays and weekend closures
- Election periods can disrupt government services
- Wildlife-related deaths may involve Kenya Wildlife Service investigation
- Coastal deaths (Mombasa, Diani) route through Nairobi
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Kenya alone. Our cost page sets out the ranges repatriation firms publish, each named and dated. What you pay turns on the specifics of the case.
| Where the death happened | Distance to the departure airport, and any island or overland transfer, changes the freight arrangement |
| Whether a post-mortem is ordered | An investigation holds the release and adds mortuary time |
| Documentation required | Kenya paperwork, translation, and any legalisation step |
| Coffin and preparation | Airline and destination rules dictate what is needed |
| Flight availability | Direct services cost less to arrange than multi-leg cargo routing |
| Insurance | Whether a policy covers repatriation, and up to what limit |
Send us the details and we will give you a figure for your case, with no obligation.
Common questions
Questions families ask about deaths in Kenya
Kenyan documentation can be slow, particularly for the death certificate and police clearance. Nairobi processes are faster than provincial offices. Port Health clearance (freedom from infection) is an additional step. Safari deaths in remote areas add significant internal transport time before documentation can even begin.
Repatriation from Kenya typically takes 14-28 days. The fastest cases complete in 10-14 days where nothing is contested. Cases involving a post-mortem or a police investigation can take 6-12 weeks.
We do not publish a figure for Kenya, because the cost turns on the specifics of the case. What moves it is where the death happened, whether an investigation must conclude first, the documentation Kenya requires, and the flight routing available. Send us the details and we will price your case, with no obligation.
Body transported as human remains cargo on commercial flights. Nairobi JKIA is the main cargo hub. Kenya Airways has good cargo services. British Airways also operates direct London-Nairobi. Mombasa has limited international cargo capacity; most repatriations route through Nairobi. Safari deaths (Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu) require road transport to Nairobi. This can take 4-8 hours depending on location and road conditions. Mombasa coast deaths may require road or domestic flight to Nairobi. Good direct Nairobi-London connectivity (KQ and BA). Safari deaths are the main internal logistics challenge. Masai Mara is 5-6 hours by road from Nairobi. Light aircraft charters from safari airstrips can speed up internal transport but add cost.
The British post covering Kenya is in Nairobi. Consular staff register the death with UK authorities, provide a list of local funeral directors, and help you reach an insurer. They cannot pay any cost, arrange the repatriation, or release the body. The FCDO 24 hour line is +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
Full repatriation guide for Kenya
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideCremation in Kenya
If local cremation is the right choice for your family, our country guide covers the documentation, airline rules, and costs.
Cremation guideSend us the details
If you need someone to take over the arrangements, tell us what has happened. We arrange repatriation from Kenya to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Kenya
Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing your loved one home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance, official embassy contacts, and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Official lists for Kenya
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Funeral directors, for arranging local care and preparation
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from Kenya · Frequently asked questions