This archive report was first published on 12 January 2020.
On January 12, 2020, the United Kingdom issued a travel advisory for its citizens traveling to Kenya, following the recent Manda Bay attack that left three US nationals dead.
The advisory, issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), asks UK citizens to avoid certain areas of the country if at all possible, mainly those along the Somalia border.
One week prior, suspected Al Shabaab militants attacked a military base in Manda Bay, leaving one US service member and two Department of Defense contractors dead.
According to the FCO, the most vulnerable places in the country include areas within 60km of the Kenya-Somali border, Garissa County, and Lamu County.
Other areas of concern are Tana River County north of the Tana river itself and within 15km of the coast from the Tana river down to the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki) river.
Approximately 190,000 UK residents visit Kenya every year, the FCO noted.
“Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Kenya. There is a heightened threat of terrorism, including terrorist kidnappings, across Kenya. Attacks, including terrorist kidnappings, could target Westerners, including British nationals,” the statement read in part.
The office also warned that attacks could be indiscriminate in places frequented by foreigners such as hotels, bars, restaurants, sports bars, and nightclubs, as well as sporting events, supermarkets, and shopping centers.
