Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Abraham Korir Sing’Oei has protested Israel’s decision to include Kenya in a list of countries facing new travel restrictions over concerns linked to the Ebola outbreak.
In a statement posted on Monday, June 15, the PS termed the move as unjustified, citing Kenya’s public health record and ongoing surveillance efforts.
Sing’Oei noted that Kenya has been supporting regional Ebola surveillance and response measures and has conducted thousands of tests without recording any confirmed cases of the virus.
“Kenya strongly protests the decision by Israel to include the country amongst those whose travellers it will restrict.” he wrote.
The entrance to the Israeli Embassy in Kenya.
Photo
Mapcarta
The PS added, “This is especially unfortunate given Kenya’s support to regional surveillance & response to Ebola. With over 80,000 tests, no case of Ebola has been reported in Kenya.”
The protest follows a directive issued by Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority on June 10, ordering airlines to deny boarding to foreign passengers travelling from or who have recently visited several countries.
The countries listed include Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Additionally, the directive bars any foreign nationals who have visited the listed countries within 21 days prior to travel from boarding flights to Israel, regardless of nationality or residency status.
Israel’s immigration authority instructed airlines to screen all passengers before boarding and verify travel history within the restricted period, denying entry onto flights bound for Israel if they meet the criteria.
“Airlines must question every foreign passenger prior to boarding, which includes verifying whether they have stayed in any of the restricted countries listed above during the past 21 days. If the answer is affirmative, they must not be permitted to board the flight to Israel,” the authority wrote.
In the directive, Israel clarified that the measures take effect immediately and do not apply to Israeli citizens or residents.
The Kenyan government has maintained that its Ebola surveillance and response systems remain active, citing extensive testing and coordination with regional health partners as part of efforts to prevent and manage potential outbreaks.
Israel’s new rules come amid renewed global caution over Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa, prompting tighter travel controls by several countries.
President William Ruto (left) shaking hands with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) on May 9, 2023
PCS
