Kenya has scaled up security following warnings by various European countries of possible attacks in the capital, Nairobi.

The French embassy on Thursday warned its nationals of a "real risk" of places frequented by foreigners, such as restaurants, hotels and shopping centers, being targeted in the coming days.

German, Dutch and U.S. embassies also warned their citizens in the country to remain vigilant.

In response, Kenya's National Police Service said security had been beefed up to deter any threats.

"The National Police Service assures the public that security in the country has been scaled up through different policing operations," it said in a statement.

"We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities."

Kenya has in the past been targeted by the al-Shabaab terror group in retaliation for sending troops into Somalia in 2011 as part of an African Union forces to beat back the fighters.

In 2013, al-shabaab militants attacked a shopping mall in the Kenyan capital and killed 67 people

In 2015, terrorists allied to the group killed 148 people in Garissa University in one of the worst terror attacks in Kenya's history.

Another attack in 2019 killed 21 people in a hotel and office complex in Nairobi.