This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
As the number of Covid-19 infections continues to rise sharply in Kenya, the government has announced plans to reopen the country's airspace for domestic flights, allow religious gatherings, and inter-county tourism.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has promised to review the months-long Covid-19 lockdown measures, which are set to lapse on July 6, ending more than three months of strict shutdowns of different sectors of the economy.
"We will soon start domestic flights and this is what we will use as our trial in readiness for international travel over the next couple of days," President Kenyatta said last week, pointing to the lifting of a ban on travel into and out of Nairobi and Mombasa, the country's biggest cities.
The reopening will be guided by protocols put in place in different sectors of the economy, including the tourism sector, which has developed a set of re-opening protocols that received a stamp of approval from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) on July 1.
"I am delighted to announce that Kenya has been listed among the 80 global destinations certified and authorised to use the 'World Travel and Tourism Council Safe Travel Stamp' together with our Magical Kenya Logo," said Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala.
The protocols aim to ensure service provision meets required guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 and provide a safe experience for visitors.
Kenya Airways Board chairman Michael Joseph said the national carrier is ready to resume flights as early as July 8, once the travel restrictions are lifted.
"We are ready to re-open. We have put in place protocols as required by both local and international standards including the boarding and checking-in situation," Mr Joseph said.
