The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a fresh travel advisory cautioning British citizens against traveling to certain parts of Kenya.
In a statement on Thursday, September 18, the FCDO warned against travelling to areas in the east of Kenya, including the border with Somalia, citing heightened security risks.
"FCDO now advises against all travel to areas in the east of Kenya, including the border with Somalia, and now advises against all but essential travel to some neighbouring areas," the advisory read.
The advisory explained that due to the risk of terrorism from groups based in Somalia, British nationals are advised against all travel to Mandera County, Tarbaj and Wajir East constituencies in Wajir County except for Wajir Town, and to areas of Wajir County within 60 kilometers of Kenya’s border with Somalia.
Travel is also discouraged to Garissa County except for Garissa Town, the constituency of Lagdera, and areas of Balambala constituency which lie north and west of the main road running from Saka on the Tana River up to the intersection with the C81 Road.
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Similarly, the FCDO advised against travel to Lamu County, with the exception of Lamu Island and Manda Island.
The office further noted that it advises against all but essential travel to Garissa Town, to Tana River County north of the Tana River as far as the town of Saka, and to areas within 15 kilometers of the east coast between the Tana River and the Athi-Galana-Sabaki River.
The warning also highlighted the risk of abductions, noting that foreigners have increasingly become targets.
"There is a high risk of kidnapping across Kenya. British nationals are seen as legitimate targets. Westerners have been the target of kidnaps and further kidnaps are very likely," the advisory added.
The FCDO noted that no travel can ever be guaranteed completely safe and urged UK nationals to take precautions before traveling.
"If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency," the advisory further read.
This comes months after the UK cautioned its citizens over increasing cases of kidnapping in Kenya.
In a travel advisory issued on Friday, June 27, British citizens were advised to exercise caution as they were potential targets.
The UK government explained that the kidnappers had targeted Westerners in the recent past, with a likelihood of the incidents increasing.
"There is a high risk of kidnapping across Kenya. British nationals are seen as legitimate targets. Westerners have been the target of kidnaps and further kidnaps are very likely," read the update in part.
Notably, the advisory by the UK came months after the United States Embassy in Nairobi issued a similar update on kidnappings.
In the advisory issued in March, the US embassy detailed that the kidnappings were prone in the northern parts of Kenya and parts of Nairobi.
"Kenya-Somalia border counties (Garissa, Wajir, Mandera), Tana River County, and coastal areas north of Malindi, due to terrorism and kidnapping. Reconsider travel to the Nairobi neighborhoods of Eastleigh and Kibera due to crime and kidnapping," the US warned.
