Kenya issues travel advisory to visitors from UK

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel advisory for visitors coming into Kenya from the United Kingdom a day after the European country gave notice to travellers originating from Kenya.

UK’s travel advisory

On Friday, the UK issued a statement saying that from April 9, visitors who have been in or transited through Kenya in the previous 10 days will be denied entry into England, says UK Embassy citing Covid-19 risks.

“There are new restrictions for entering the UK from Kenya. From 0400 UK time on 9 April, visitors who have been in or transited through Kenya in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England,” read a tweet from the UK Embassy in Kenya.

British, Irish and third-country nationals with residence rights arriving in England from Kenya will be required to quarantine in a government-approved facility for 10 days. However, different rules apply for arrivals into Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Kenya’s addition to the UK’s Red List will take effect on Friday, April 9, at 4:00am UK time.

Kenya’s travel advisory

On Saturday, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying, in light of the decisions taken by the United Kingdom, Kenya has decided to undertake the following measures:

1. As a direct and reciprocal response to the measures indicated in the NV 405/21 all passenger flights, whether commercial or charter, between Kenya and the United Kingdom, are suspended as of midnight April 9, 2021.

2. The suspension will be reviewed within 4 weeks.

3. All cargo flights may continue without restriction, on the condition that all crew present a valid certificate of vaccination against Covid-19 and carry a valid Covid-19 negative PCR test certificate.

4. Moving forward, all passengers coming to Kenya from the UK must have a valid Covid-19 vaccination certificate and a Covid-19 negative PCR test and must self-isolate on arrival for a period of seven days.

5. All UK citizens and residents travelling to Kenya from the UK, irrespective of their route of travel to Kenya and who do not have a valid Covid-19 vaccination certificate, but who must nonetheless have a valid Covid-19 negative PCR test certificate, shall be subject to 14 days mandatory quarantine on arrival at a government facility at their own cost.

6. All travellers below the age of 18 will require a certificate of Covid-19 negative PCR tests to enter Kenya.

7. Kenyan citizens only require a certificate of Covid-19 negative PCR tests to travel.

8. All United Kingdom government officials and diplomats carrying official government travel documentation must have a valid Covid-19 vaccination certificate and a valid Covid-19 negative PCR test certificate to enter Kenya.

Additional flights

The national carrier, Kenya Airways on Saturday announced the addition of two repatriation flights on April 4 and 8 to meet increased demand for travel to the UK before the European Country’s travel advisory takes effect on April 9.

“Due to the increased demand for travel to the UK before the advisory takes effect on April 9, we have added 2 new flights on April 4 and 8,” read a statement from KQ.

The UK will not accept foreign nationals travelling from or via Kenya to the UK, including transit passengers who might only pass through JKIA, Nairobi.

“Customers impacted by this directive may change their bookings for later travel or request a refund with all penalties waived,” said KQ.