LONDON (AFP) — Britain on Saturday toned down its travel advice for Kenya, but warned its nationals against all but essential travel to certain parts of the east African country.

Kenya is facing a major political crisis in the wake of last month's widely-disputed election that saw President Mwai Kibaki win re-election.

"We continue to advise against all but essential travel to the following parts of Kenya; Western and Nyanza provinces, Rift Valley province between Narok and Kitale, the central business district, Kibera, Mathare and Eastleigh areas of Nairobi, Uhuru Park and Mombasa town," the Foreign Office said on its website.

The previous advisory, issued at the beginning of the month, had warned against all but essential travel to the entire country.

The Foreign Office added: "The security and political situation in the country remains unpredictable. If you are in affected areas you should remain indoors."

Prior to nationwide protests in Kenya that began on Wednesday, more than 700 people died in tribal killings and clashes with police and around 260,000 others were displaced.

Some 290,000 British tourists visit Kenya each year, it added, citing the Kenyan Tourist Board.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said that there are approximately 12,000 British nationals registered with the British High Commission in Nairobi.

She added that there could be at least 40,000 Britons in Kenya at any one time, including tourists and those not registered.