The statements of Sunday, November 21 by the Minister of Health Mutahi Kagwe, which proposes from December 21 the need for vaccination certificate in Kenya to access public offices and government services, but also transport, hospitals, hotels, bars and restaurants, have become a proposed decree law to be approved by the Government.
If this decree would pass, before Christmas those not fully vaccinated could not access any government office, public facilities or transport of any kind.
But the decree would also touch the tourists, because according to the proposal of the Ministry of Health, customers of hotels, bars and restaurants, stores that can accommodate more than 50 people at once (so malls, discos, supermarkets, etc. ...) but also parks and national reserves, will not be able to access these facilities and activities without proof of vaccination.
In practice, a firm grip on vaccinations that provides neither more nor less than the limitations already in place in much of the Western world for those who have not yet been vaccinated and have no intention of doing so.
"Visitors, tourists, travelers arriving from Europe will have to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination before entering the country," Minister Kagwe said.
If approved, the decree would certainly not help the hospitality industry already severely damaged by the pandemic, but we believe that it would not even be so easy to control the influx of people in individual activities. More credible would be the obligation of vaccine for the entrance in places of tourist attraction, such as safari parks or marine parks.
In any case, the proposal has already triggered Kenya's civil society and various associations.
"The Supreme Court of Kenya will declare the eventual decree unconstitutional - you can read on many social pages that debate the topic of the day - the vaccine is not mandatory, so for now can not be discriminated against those who do not."
For now, of course. Parliament should first change the rules.
Will there be time between now and December 21 to do so?
Does it make sense to make such a revolution with only 10% of the population vaccinated and close to the Christmas vacations, when millions will be traveling?
We'll follow up in future episodes, but the future of Green Pass in Kenya is not yet written.