Travellers who have been in Kenya or transited through the East African country en route to the UK will not be allowed to enter England starting April 9 after 4 am.
According to a new travel advisory passed on March 31 by UK ministers, the decision was taken in light of increasing Kenyans travelling to the UK who test positive for Covid-19 on their second day of quarantine.
“As the esteemed Ministry will be aware, travellers from all countries re required to take Covid-19 tests on Days 2 and 8 following their arrival in the UK. On the average of 550 people that travel from Kenya to the UK each week, a significant number are testing positive on day 2.
Neary a third of those testing positives have been carrying the B.1.351 variant, which originated in South Africa,” a statement signed by UK High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Mariott read.
It added: “From 4am on 9 April visitors who have been in or transited through Kenya in the previous 10 days cannot enter the UK,” another statement posted on the UK High Commission Embassy read.
“British and Irish nationals and third country nationals with residence rights in the UK arriving in England from Kenya will be required to quarantine in a hotel. “
Kenya is battling a deadly Covid-19 thirdwave that is killing over 25 people daily with highs of 2,000 daily infections.
Already, five counties among them Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado and Nakuru have been put on cessation due to the high number of Covid-19 cases being recorded.
President Uhuru Kenyatta a week ago termed them Covid-19 hotspots.
An 8 pm to 4 am dusk to dawn curfew has also been imposed in these counties as bars remain closed indefinitely.
