US cautions its citizens against travelling to Kenya
In a statement released on Thursday, October 21, the US Embassy in Nairobi cautioned American citizens against travelling to various parts of Kenya, including the Kenya-Somalia border, citing that they are unsafe for US citizens.
The advisory came a few days after President Kenyatta met his US counterpart, President Joe Biden at the White House and after nightly curfews were lifted in Kenya.
According to the statement, US citizens were warned against travelling to the Turkana region due to rising crime rate and other coastal areas that are highly likely targets of terror attacks.
Some areas of Nairobi were never left out in the advisory, Eastleigh and Kibera slums were red-zoned due to a rising rate of kidnappings and burglary.
“These areas are characterised by armed carjacking, mugging, home invasion, and kidnapping. Be especially careful when traveling after dark anywhere in Kenya due to crime,” the statement read.
The statement also pointed out the lack of proper response by the police during terror attacks and emergencies.
“Local police are willing but often lack the capability to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents and terrorist attacks. Emergency medical and fire service is also limited.”
The statement further pointed out that there were rising cases of terror attacks targeting both foreigners and locals.
“Terrorist attacks have occurred with little or no warning, targeting Kenyan and foreign government facilities, tourist locations, transportation hubs, hotels, resorts, markets/shopping malls, and places of worship. These terrorist acts included armed assaults, suicide operations, bomb/grenade attacks, and kidnappings.”
“Some schools and other facilities acting as cultural rehabilitation centres are operating in Kenya with inadequate or nonexistent licensing and oversight. Reports of minors and young adults being held in these facilities against their wills and physically abused are common.”
The move by the US to caution its citizens visiting the country has been heavily criticized by Kenyans, who see it as a way of US trying to demonise the East African country and incite fear.
The US itself has also been a victim of terror attacks including the Capitol Hill riots on January 6, 2021, when a mob incited by former US President Donald Trump attacked the US Capitol, where over five people died in the aftermath of the events.
