Monday January 15, 2024
British High Commissioner, Neil Wigan (center) with Mandera leaders during his tour of the region/Courtesy
The United Kingdom has issued a travel warning for its citizens in Kenya, advising them to exercise caution and avoid touring specific regions of the country.
In its update to the terrorism section, the UK, through the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), has recommended that British nationals refrain from non-essential travel to certain areas in Kenya.
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice,” the office warned.
Top on the list in the UK travel warning, FCDO advised against all but essential travel to areas within 60km of Kenya’s border with Somalia.
Somalia has been grappling with the threat of al-Shabaab, a militant Islamist group, for over a decade. The group’s activities have spilled over into Kenya, raising concerns about security and stability in the region.
The FCDO also cautioned against non-essential travel to eastern Garissa County and Mandera County, except for the Mandera West sub-county.
British nationals have additionally been advised to avoid non-essential travel to Lamu County, excluding Lamu Island and Manda Island.
The UK travel warning extends to Tana River County, specifically areas north of the Tana River and within 15km of the coast between the Tana River and the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki) River.
The listed areas have historically witnessed a higher frequency of terrorist attacks compared to other regions in Kenya.
Al-Shabaab commonly targets Kenyan security forces, and government installations, as well as soft targets such as hotels and transportation hubs in these specific regions.
The UK travel warning coincides with the eve of the fifth anniversary of the January 15, 2019, terrorist attack on the DusitD2 complex in Nairobi, where 21 people lost their lives.
Gunmen stormed the complex, which included a hotel, offices, and restaurants, resulting in a deadly terrorist attack claimed by the extremist militia group the al-Shabaab.