NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 7- After hours of sustained tension between Kenya and the United Kingdom, efforts have been made to restore normalcy.
The situation was sparked by the UK’s decision to ‘red list’ Kenya, which in returned reciprocated by declaring that all visitors originating from or transiting through UK airports will be required to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine at a government facility at their own cost.
Kenya also banned flights from Britain.
Bu on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo held what the UK High Commissioner to Kenya termed as “positive deliberations” with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
The two focused on the “need to work on strengthening trade and deepening regional security.”
A spokesperson for the British High Commission said, “Positive call this morning between the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Raychelle Omamo.”
“They discussed the strength of our relationship – on trade, regional security, and health – and agreed to establish a Joint Committee to work together on addressing COVID-19 travel restrictions.”
The US has also issued a travel advisory against Kenya, asking her citizens not to visit the country.
This after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the Level 4 travel health -which is the highest- for Kenya due to the pandemic.
Since March, 2020, Kenya has recorded 141,365 positive cases of COVID-19.
The country is currently battling a third and fierce wave of infections, with new variants being recorded.
To curb the infection rate, President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a set of new stringent measures that included a lockdown on five counties, where the new rate of infection has been recorded.
They are Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Nakuru and Machakos Counties.
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