By Hilary Kimuyu
The government, through the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), has raised its Travel Health Notice for Kenya from Level Two
- which was issued in June and indicates moderate level of Covid-19 - to Three.
"The CDC has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for
Kenya due to Covid-19, indicating a high level of Covid-19 in the country. Your
risk of contracting Covid-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you
are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorised vaccine," part of the statement
reads.
"Before planning any international travel, please
review the CDC's specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated
travelers."
The US also warned its citizens, as it usually does, not to
travel to the Kenya-Somalia border and some coastal areas due to risk of
terrorism.
It further cautioned its citizens against going to Eastleigh
and Kibera in Nairobi due to crime and risk of kidnapping.
"Be especially careful when traveling after dark
anywhere in Kenya due to crime. Violent crimes, such as armed carjacking,
mugging, home invasion, and kidnapping, can occur at any time. Local police are
willing but often lack the capability to respond effectively to serious
criminal incidents and terrorist attacks. Emergency medical and fire service is
also limited."
The US issued a Level Four Covid-19 warning, its highest, in
December last year citing "very high levels of Covid-19". It retained
the same in April this year.
The development comes less than a week after the UK retained
Kenya on its Covid-19 red list amid rising coronavirus cases in the country.