Serious civil unrest in Kenya has prompted governments to advise against everything apart from essential travel to vast swaths of the country.
The disturbances that have swept the country leaving hundreds dead, follow the result of recent Presidential elections that have formed the backdrop to violent clashes.
Turmoil continues to swirl around much of Kenya, prompting the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to issue the following statement today (2 January).
”We advise against all but essential travel to the urban centres of Kisumu, Kakamega, Kericho, Eldoret; to the Kisauni, Likoni and Tiwi areas around Mombasa; and to rural areas between Nakuru and Eldoret and around Kericho in the Rift Valley. We also advise against all but essential travel to Nairobi city centre, Uhuru Park and the Kibera, Mathare, and Eastleigh areas of Nairobi.
”We recommend that you stay indoors. If you need to travel, including to an airport, you should exercise extreme caution and seek advice locally either from your tour operator or the local Kenyan authorities.”
A heavy police presence is reported in the capital, Nairobi, while tour operators in the Mombassa area are working with the Tourist Police Unit to provide escorts to and from Moi International Airport.
The US Department of State has also issued a Public Announcement to its citizens urging them to: ”strongly consider the risks of travel to Kenya at this time. The situation is volatile and subject to change.
”There have been reports of widespread violence, demonstrations, and looting in Nairobi and throughout Kenya. Although the security situation is changing, Americans in Kenya can expect airport closures; a large police and military presence; food shortages; cash shortages at banks and ATMs; sporadic telephone, cell phone and Internet service; and possible news blackouts.”
Airlines are continuing to serve the country with no reports of alterations to services apart from Kenya Airways, which has reinstated its Kisumu-Nairobi service.
”There are no issues at airports and we [continue to] fly every night out of Heathrow to Nairobi,” a Kenya Airways spokeswoman told ABTN.
British Airways flies ten-times weekly to Nairobi and says it is operating services as normal although it is ”monitoring the situation.” Virgin Atlantic also says there are no disruptions to its daily schedule ” ”there is lots of New Year traffic,” said a spokesman.
The events follow a period of relative calm in Kenya, whose capital Nairobi in particular, has enjoyed a degree of economic success, while its tourist regions have thrived as existing and new airlines serve the country.