UK issues travel advisory for its citizens residing and travelling to Kenya

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has issued a travel advisory against all travel to areas in the east of Kenya, including the border with Somalia.

FCDO said the move has been occasioned due to the risk of terrorism from groups based in Somalia.

They have advised against travel to the Mandera, Tarbaj, and Wajir East constituencies in Wajir County, except for Wajir Town and areas of Wajir County within 60km of Kenya’s border with Somalia.

Others are Garissa County—except for Garissa Town, the constituency of Lagdera and the areas of Balambala constituency which lie north and west of the main road which runs from Saka on the Tana River up to the intersection with the C81 Road.

They also issued an advisory in Lamu County, except for Lamu Island and Manda Island.

FCDO advised against all but essential travel to Garissa Town, Tana River County north of the Tana River as far as the town of Saka within 15km of the east coast between the Tana River and the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki).

“There have been frequent attacks in the northeastern border regions, most of which were attributed to Al Shabaab,” FCDO said in a statement on their website.

According to them, the attacks have killed members of the Kenyan security forces as well as civilians.

They said the Kenyan security forces have increased their presence in the affected areas.

FCDO further added that armed militia groups operate within the Boni National Reserve and along the border with Somalia.

They asked their citizens planning to travel to Lamu Island or Manda Island to go to Lamu Airport (a civilian airport on Manda Island) and avoid travel by road.

For travel between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Nairobi City, they were advised to use the Mombasa Road or the Nairobi Expressway.

According to them, rural areas, particularly in the north and northeast of Kenya, occasionally experience cattle rustling, banditry and ethnic clashes.

FCDO said foreign nationals are not usually the target, but you should take great care.

Following the move of the Kenyan government to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew in parts of Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu counties, the citizens were urged to follow local security measures and use caution.

“There have been attacks using landmines around Moyale, close to the main A2 road south. Vehicles crossing the Kenya-Ethiopia border at this point should stay on the A2. Avoid staying at the rest house at Sololo—travel directly to Marsabit before breaking the journey,” the statement read.

FCDO said there is a large security presence in Mount Elgon because of armed clashes, adding that further incidents are possible.