No travel in or out of Kenya without valid COVID-19 certificate, MOH says

Effective Monday, January 11, no traveler will enter or depart Kenya without an authentic and verified travelers’ COVID-19 certificates.

In the move aimed at stamping out fake COVID-19 certificates, no laboratories will be allowed to issue a certificate without trusted travel codes.

” This will help us also save Kenya, the shame and travel bans when people use fake certificates and fake tests.” Head of Public Health Dr. Francis Kuria said.

The new measure was prompted by reports of travelers who were apprehended at JKIA bearing forged medical documents.

In November alone, nearly 100 Kenyans flew out of the country using falsified COVID-19 certificates only to test positive in Dubai.

The government in collaboration with the African Union, Africa CDC and with technical support from Panabios has implemented an online system to authenticate and verify travelers’ COVID-19 certificates before departure or entry

How does it work?

A traveler first visits only an authorized lab to take a PCR COVID-19 test. In Kenya, all authorized PCR COVID-19 testing laboratories have been linked to the trusted travel initiative.

If one tests negative, one will be issued with a travel code that can be verified by airlines and port health authorities.

The traveler then receives a text message (SMS) from panabios and in addition, an email from the testing laboratory and /or admin@panabios.org with a link to guide the traveler IN generating a travel code at trustedtravel.panabios.org.

“You can then download your certificate with the travel code and present it. if not, the SMS sent to you by panabios is enough even if you go to the airport.” Dr. Kuria added.

If a test result meets the exit and entry requirements of Kenya and their travel destination, a travel code is issued to the traveler online. With this travel code, one can travel to their transit and /or final destination.

The Health Ministry is now warning Kenyans against using dubious certificates. He

The new normal, the government has said, will guarantee the safe re-opening of Kenya to the rest of the globe.