After UK, the US slaps Kenya with a travel advisory

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 7- Even before Kenya can settle a diplomatic tiff with the United Kingdom for being put on their red list, the United States has issued a travel advisory against the country due to the surge in cases of COVID-19 infections.

A similar ban was issued by the UK and is set to come to effect on Friday, while more measures are expected.

 In return, Kenya banned passenger flights from the United Kingdom, among a set of more stringent measures against passengers traveling or coming from the UK.

The new development comes days after President Uhuru Kenyatta raised alarm over increased cases of infections and fatalities related to coronavirus, and as a result, locked down five Counties.

The counties zoned as disease areas include the capital city Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kajiado and Machakos.

Already, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued the Level 4 travel health -which is the highest- for Kenya due to the pandemic.

Since March 2020, the country has a caseload of 141, 365 COVID-19 positive cases.  

In the travel advisory issued by the US on Thursday, the American citizens in Kenya were asked to exercise caution while in the country due to, “crime, terrorism, health issues and kidnapping.”

“International flights are still operating, though limited. Internal flights are restricted, and road and rail transportation are limited geographically and by curfew. Most businesses are operating, but with significant restrictions on the dining and entertainment sector.”

Further, the American citizens are urged to reconsider traveling to the ‘threat’ of Kibera and Eastland due to crime and kidnapping.

“Terrorist attacks have occurred with little or no warning, targeting Kenyan and foreign government facilities, tourist locations, transportation hubs, hotels, resorts, markets/shopping malls, and places of worship. Terrorist acts have included armed assaults, suicide operations, bomb/grenade attacks, and kidnappings” reads the advisory.

“Due to risks to civil aviation operating in the vicinity of the Kenyan-Somali border, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).”