Nairobi has objected to Israel’s decision to include Kenya in a list of countries facing new travel restrictions over concerns over the ebola outbreak.
In a statement seen by APAon Wednesday, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya Abraham Korir Sing’Oei criticised Israeli’s move as unjustified, citing Kenya’s public health record and ongoing surveillance efforts.
Sing’Oei noted that Kenya has been supporting regional Ebola surveillance and response measures and has conducted thousands of tests without recording any confirmed cases of the virus.
“Kenya strongly protests the decision by Israel to include the country amongst those whose travellers it will restrict.” he wrote.
The PS added, “This is especially unfortunate given Kenya’s support to regional surveillance and response to Ebola. With over 80,000 tests, no case of Ebola has been reported in Kenya.”
The protest follows a directive issued by Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority on June 10, ordering airlines to deny boarding to foreign passengers travelling from or who have recently visited several countries.
The countries listed include Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Additionally, the directive bars any foreign nationals who have visited the listed countries within 21 days prior to travel from boarding flights to Israel, regardless of nationality or residency status.
Israel’s immigration authority instructed airlines to screen all passengers before boarding and verify travel history within the restricted period, denying entry onto flights bound for Israel if they meet the criteria.
MG/as/APA