Britain eases travel restrictions on Kenya

The British government on Monday relaxed its travel advisory against Kenya in the latest move that will encourage more visitors to the east African nation.

A brief statement from the British embassy in Nairobi said the government has removed its advice to its nationals travelling to low income areas in Nairobi except Eastleigh area which is inhabited by Kenyans of Somali origin and which has been a scene of grenade attacks in the past.

“Britain has removed advice against all but essential travel to low income areas of Nairobi, except the Eastleigh area,” the advisory reads.

In May 2014, the British government advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Kenya, especially the coastal island of Lamu, after a string of attacks and massacres there.

However, the British embassy in Nairobi said its Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had decided to relax the advisor which takes effect on Monday.

The FCO does advise against travel to Kenya’s popular safari destinations in the national parks, reserves and wildlife conservancies, including the Aberdare National Park, Amboseli, Laikipia, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Meru, Mount Kenya, Samburu, and Shimba Hills, Tsavo.

The embassy says most visits to game reserves and other tourist areas are trouble-free. “If you visit reserves, use reputable tour operators and arrive at your destination in daylight hours. Don’t buy safari tours from touts,” it said.

The changes in the advisory in June prompted the British FCO to close its consulate in Mombasa, saying it would provide normal consular assistance to its nationals through the Nairobi office.

Increased grenade and terror attacks in the coastal city of Mombasa and Nairobi prompted Britain to issue fresh travel advice on May 14 to its nationals visiting Nairobi and the tourism resort city especially in areas near the border with Somalia.

The British government said the move to close the consulate was informed by an assessment of threats faced by its nationals in the area.

Kenya’s coastal towns are the backbone of the country’s thriving tourism industry, which has been hit by the fear of terror attacks and the kidnapping of foreigners by Somali pirates from resorts near the border with Somalia.

The British government was the first to issue travel advisories in May, warning its citizens not to visit the coastal beaches, Nairobi and the north-eastern region. France, Australia and the U. S. followed with updated advisories.