Kenya has decided: all foreign visitors as well as Kenyans living abroad entering Kenya from December 21 will be required to show certified proof of vaccination against Covid-19.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that the rise of the new Omicron variant worldwide has hastened a process already underway and recently prospected by the government.
"We wish to make it clear that as of now we remain vigilant at all our points of entry (POEs) to ensure that we do not import the new variant into the country," reads a statement from the Ministry.
Kenyans exiting the country from December 21 will also be required to show their certificates, in any case the requirement for the swab will not be lifted. "All travelers entering the country must be in possession of a negative COVID-19 PCR taken 96 hours prior to arrival in the country," the same ministry statement clarifies - "Vaccination certificates will only be mandatory for people over the age of 18, who will be required to show them."
Last week, Director General of Health Patrick Amoth had already asked the country's airport authorities to increase surveillance and screening at all entry points into the country.
"Surveillance protocols will be strengthened, with a focus on who will face possible quarantine and retesting. All countries that have cases of the new variant and those transiting through them will be subject to additional, strict controls," Amoth said.
The variant, omicron, has a large number of mutations that WHO says poses great challenges to scientists.
Already, cases of the variant have been detected in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Belgium, Israel, Denmark, Austria, the Czech Republic, Australia, Canada and Portugal. These certainly are countries from which no unvaccinated traveler will be able to enter Kenya.