UK lifts travel advisories on Kenya

The United Kingdom has lifted travel advisory on Kenya to its nationals.

The UK – through a statement to the newsrooms – says it has removed “advice against all but essential travel to the stretch of coast including Mombasa County and Kilifi County up to and including Watamu.”

Further, UK says the change “follows a review of the level of risk to British Nationals travelling in this part of Kenya.”

However, the UK says “advice against all but essential travel to the coast now runs from the border with Somalia down to and including Malindi. Watamu is not included in the advice against all but essential travel.”

It has also stated that travel advise against all but essential travel to areas within 60km of the Kenya-Somali border, Garissa County, the Eastleigh area of Nairobi, Lamu County and those areas of Tana River County north of the Tana River itself still remains.

Last week, the British government said travel advisories cautioning its citizens against travelling to Kenya will only be lifted if security improves in parts of Kenya listed in the advisories.

British High Commissioner to Kenya Dr. Christian Turner, however, said the UK will work with Kenya to improve security and development in the country.

The travel advisory that was issued approximately a year ago has dealt a major blow to the already struggling tourism sector.

The travel advisories were triggered by recent terrorist attacks in the country by the Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab militia.