Moving to Kenya from Burkina Faso
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Burkina Faso to Kenya — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Burkina Faso to Kenya, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Swahili. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Nairobi averages 74°F vs 95°F in Ouagadougou, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Get free moving quotes to Kenya
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Burkina Faso to Kenya.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Burkina Faso performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Burkina Faso generally does better on environment, though Kenya leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Kenya generally does better on infrastructure, though Burkina Faso leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Kenya generally does better on employment & economy, though Burkina Faso leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Kenya generally does better on family life, though Burkina Faso leads in education spending.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Ouagadougou | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 96°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 99°/78°F (37°/26°C) | 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) | 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 95°/67°F (35°/20°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ouagadougou | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C) | 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C) | 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) |
| Mar | 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C) | 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) |
| Apr | 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C) | 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) |
| May | 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C) | 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C) | 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) |
| Jul | 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C) | 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) |
| Aug | 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C) | 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) |
| Sep | 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C) | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) |
| Oct | 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C) | 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) |
| Nov | 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) |
| Dec | 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C) | 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) |
Data:
Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso,
Kenya Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Burkina Faso and Kenya. To live, work, or study long-term in Kenya, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Kenya's immigration authority.
Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Kenya
Visa Free
Kenya passport holder visiting Burkina Faso
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Kenya?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Kenya has 1.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Kenya safe for expats?
Burkina Faso performs better than Kenya across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Kenya compared to Burkina Faso?
Burkina Faso generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kenya leads in health coverage index. There are 1.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Kenya, compared to 1.5 in Burkina Faso. Kenya scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burkina Faso: 40).
What's the weather like in Kenya compared to Burkina Faso?
The average high temperature in Nairobi is 74°F, compared to 95°F in Ouagadougou. Nairobi receives around 40.3 in of rainfall per year, while Ouagadougou gets 29.3 in.
What language do they speak in Kenya?
The official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili. In Burkina Faso, the official language is French.
