What the record shows for Kenya
The strongest earthquake on record near Kenya is a magnitude 6.7 in 1928, centred 33 km WNW of Nyahururu, Kenya - 98 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 2 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Kenya - about one every 10 years. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
No tsunamis are recorded within 300 km of Kenya in the NOAA NCEI database. A quiet record is not the same as no exposure - a large enough offshore earthquake can reach coastlines that have never been hit in the historical period.
17 volcanoes are catalogued near Kenya, including Nyambeni Hills, Segererua Plateau, Elmenteita Badlands, Longonot, Paka, Korosi and 11 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Popular
Kenya straddles the East African Rift Valley, an active continental rift zone.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Kenya.
Earthquake risk in Kenya - FAQ
Is Kenya at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 10 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.7 in 1928.
What was the biggest earthquake in Kenya?
The strongest earthquake on record near Kenya is M6.7, in 1928 (33 km WNW of Nyahururu, Kenya), from USGS.
Does Kenya get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 300 km of Kenya in the NOAA database - though coastlines everywhere carry some residual risk after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Kenya?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.