United States Department of State Issues Travel Warning to Kenya

The United States Department of State has issued a new travel warning to the American citizen in Kenya and those planning to travel to Kenya.

In an official statement dated the 13^th of January 2017, the U.S Department of State outlines various places in Kenya that are deemed dangerous and wants all the U.S citizens to avoid them.

“The U.S Department of State warns U.S Citizens to avoid travel to the border area between Somali and Kenya because of threats by terrorist group al-Shabaab. U.S citizens should also be aware of potential terrorist threat and the high risk of crime throughout the country,” read part of the statement. The statement comes after the United States issued a similar travel advisory to the American citizens in June 2016.

“Avoid travel in North Eastern Kenyan counties of Mandera, Wajir and Garissa, the coastal counties of Tana River and Lamu in their entirety, all areas north of Malindi in Kilifi county and the Nairobi neighborhood of Eastleigh. In Mombasa, the US Embassy recommends U.S citizens to visit Old Town only during daylight hours, and avoid using the Likoni ferry due to safety concerns,” said the statement.

The travel advisory also comes at the time when Kenya is gearing up toward the general elections and the political temperature has been rising. Does the United States of America know something that Kenya does not know? Is there an imminent terror attack and should the Kenyan authorities take this warning seriously? Is this new travel advisory going to heavily impact negatively on the tourism sector in the country? what does the U.S Department of State mean by ‘high risk of crime throughout the country?

Kenyan authorities are yet to commend on the issue though chances are that as usual, the authorities will brush off the warning terming it a false alarm meant to hurt the economy of the country.