Government breaks silence on US travel advisory against Kenya

Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei has defended the United States’ decision to raise its travel advisory for Kenya over the Ebola outbreak, saying Washington is entitled to caution its citizens while insisting the move does not amount to a ban on travel to the country.

Speaking during a local radio interview on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Sing’Oei described Ebola as a sensitive matter that requires international cooperation, noting that the US advisory was intended to inform American travellers about risks rather than prevent them from visiting Kenya.

“Well, the immediate reaction, of course, is that the United States is duty-bound to advise its citizens with respect to decisions that it deems important,” Sing’Oei said.

“The issue around Ebola is a sensitive matter, and it is important for them to advise its citizens.”

He explained that Kenya had been placed under Category 3, a classification he said should be understood as a caution rather than a restriction barring Americans from travelling to the country.

“As you can see, Kenya has been put on Category 3, which is more of a caution, and there are no implications with respect to, you know, barring travellers coming from Kenya associated with that advisory,” he said.

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The remarks come after the US Department of State raised its travel advisory for Kenya from Level 2, which recommends increased caution, to Level 3, which urges American citizens to reconsider travel.

The advisory, issued on October 19, cited health risks alongside concerns about crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest and road safety. It also maintains separate, more restrictive warnings against travel to specified parts of Kenya because of security risks.

The Foreign Affairs PS said Kenya had been working closely with the United States and other international partners on preparedness measures for months before the country confirmed its first case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease.

According to Sing’Oei, the government had sought to establish infrastructure for isolating and containing potentially infected people before the threat reached Kenya.

“We have been working very closely with the United States. Over the last almost six months, I think you know a bit of the history when there was an attempt by the Kenyan government to set up infrastructure to isolate and contain potentially Ebola-infected persons,” he said.

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