The United Kingdom has issued a fresh travel warning to its citizens in Kenya, citing increased security risks in several regions.
The advisory, released by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on Tuesday, December 2, highlights ongoing terrorism threats posed by groups operating from Somalia.
In the updated guidance, the FCDO outlines specific regions where British nationals are advised against all travel, including Mandera County, Tarbaj and Wajir East constituencies in Wajir County, with only Wajir Town exempted.
The restriction also covers parts of Garissa County, excluding Garissa Town, Lagdera, and sections of Balambala located north and west of the main Saka–C81 Road corridor.
In the coastal region, Lamu County is also listed, except for Lamu Island and Manda Island.
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The FCDO further warns against all but essential travel to Garissa Town, and parts of Tana River County located north of the river up to Saka, as well as the 15km stretch along the east coast between the Tana and Galana Rivers.
Beyond the regional restrictions, the advisory stresses that no journey can be considered fully risk-free and urges travellers to make use of the safety information provided.
"No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to see general advice for women travellers; read our guide on disability and travel abroad; see general advice for LGBT+ travellers; read about safety for solo and independent travel; and see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad," the advisory read.
The FCDO also advises anyone still planning to travel to Kenya to conduct thorough research of their destinations and secure proper insurance.
"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 added.
This comes days after the United States Embassy in Dar es Salaam issued a new security alert warning its citizens of possible nationwide anti-government demonstrations in the coming days.
In a notice dated Friday, November 28, the embassy said demonstrations have been planned for December 9, but cautioned that they could begin sooner.
It explained that its alert is informed by the unrest that followed the October 29 elections, saying that period saw significant damage and disruption across the country.
"There are ongoing calls for nationwide anti-government demonstrations on December 9, but protest activity could begin as early as December 5.
"Recent unrest around Tanzania’s October 29 elections resulted in destruction of public infrastructure, violence against civilians, internet shutdowns, and major travel disruptions," the notice read.
According to the advisory, anyone travelling to Tanzania in the coming weeks should prepare for widespread disruptions, including movement restrictions and possible shutdowns of key services.
"Travelers to Tanzania over the next several weeks should be prepared for potential disruptions, including the possibility of unrest, nation-wide curfews, an internet blackout, cancellation of ferries to Zanzibar, cancellation of international flights, and roadblocks enacted to enforce strict movement controls," the notice added.
The embassy also noted that foreigners in Tanzania have been receiving increased attention from security agencies following the recent unrest, including checks on their electronic devices.
"Following recent unrest, foreign nationals have experienced increased attention from local security authorities, and security forces have searched electronics for evidence of connection to unrest or politically sensitive content," the notice further read.
It further highlighted that Tanzanian authorities have warned the public against sharing material that could be considered alarming or politically sensitive.
"Police have reminded the public that under Tanzanian law, the sharing of pictures or videos that may cause panic is a criminal offense. There are reports of security authorities searching electronic devices for politically sensitive content," the notice concluded.
