Logistics

The Build Peace conference will be held at the Busara Center located at 38 Apple Cross Road (see map here). Below you will find information about accommodation in Nairobi and visas to Kenya. If you have further logistics questions, please contact buildpeace@howtobuildup.org

Visas to Kenya

Visitors to Kenya fall under three categories:

  1. Those that are exempt from requiring a visa (category 1)
  2. Those that require an e-visa, which is usually issued within 48 hours (category 2)
  3. Those that require a referred e-visa, which requires at least 10 days (category 3)

To determine whether and what type of visa you require, please visit https://evisa.go.ke/eligibility 

If you are eligible for a Category 2 or 3 e-visa, you can proceed to apply at https://evisa.go.ke/  In order to complete your visa application, you will require the following:

  • Accommodation booking
  • Passport photo (soft copy)
  • Credit card to pay visa fee of 51 USD

For those that require a Category 3 visa, please email buildpeace@howtobuildup.org if you require a letter indicating you are registered for the conference to support your application. Please note that we cannot provide individual invitation letters.  Although visas are usually issued fairly quickly, we encourage all speakers to apply as early as possible in case of any glitches with the e-visa system.

Accommodation in Nairobi

We recommend you stay in the Westlands neighbourhood, which is still fairly close to the venue and has easy access to services by foot (see travel tips about Nairobi below).

We have arranged a discount rate of 85USD/night including breakfast at the Ibis Styles Nairobi. To make use of it, email HB065-re@accor.com copying Monicah.kanini@accor.com and kelvin.kinoti@accor.com, and indicate “Build Up” in the email subject. Note that we have not arranged discounts at any other hotels. This hotel is not walking distance to the venue, but there will be a free bus shuttle to the venue available to conference participants at the start and end of the day.

If you want to stay within walking distance of the venue, The King Post (30 minutes) and The Social House (20 minutes) are good options and are also close to restaurants and cafes, supermarkets, pharmacies, shopping centres and other services. The SoLuxe Club International Hotel  is also a good budget option, and is directly next to the conference venue. 

Getting around Nairobi

Like any big city, when moving around Nairobi, especially when walking in busy areas, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and secure your belongings. You can find more detailed travel tips for Nairobi, as well as places to visit, here.

Transportation

The easiest means of transportation is by ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Bold or Little Cab, which are all available in Nairobi, and easily accessible.  Public transportation is also possible on mini-buses or ‘matatus’.  Click here for matatu routes.

From the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), you can also take official airport taxis (yellow cab).  There will be a kiosk offering taxis as you exit the airport and the staff will take you outside and show you to the car.  Check the rates before you agree to the ride.

Data and Communications

SIM cards with voice and data are easy to get at kiosks and shops across Nairobi.  Safaricom has excellent rates for voice and data services.  SIM cards are also available from Airtel.

Where to eat

Nairobi is a foodie haven!  You can find just about anything you are looking for.  In Westlands, you can check out:

Art Caffe and Java House have many locations in Westlands and are good spots for coffee and breakfast, as well as sandwiches and other fare for lunch and dinner.

Sarit Centre shopping mall has many options including.  Barista & Co and Shokupan have great vegetarian and vegan options, and the rooftop plaza also has Mexican, Italian, Burgers, and a tap house.  If you want to get outside of the shopping malls, you can also check out About Thyme, or the Nairobi Street Kitchen, which both have a wide variety of menu options.

Get to know Nairobi, Kenya, and the Horn

Nairobi is a regional hub for people across East Africa and the Horn.  If you’re looking for a bit more info about Nairobi check out this Roads and Kingdoms post, and for more about Kenya and the region, you can check out this report from the Kofi Annan foundation on the political context after Kenya’s 2022 general elections, and the Rift Valley Institute puts out regular publications on the context in the Horn and East Africa.  For information on LGBTQ rights and resources in Kenya, have a look at the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission or the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (galck+).