Kenya, UK Diplomatic Row Deepens as KQ Suspends Flights

Kenya UK diplomatic row: KQ has suspended flights to and from the UK effective 9^th April until further notice, as the diplomatic tiff between the two countries threatens to get out of hand. The not-so-surprising move comes just two days after the Kenya government banned all flights from the UK, effective 9th April, in response to London’s move to block Kenyans from its territory over the spike in Covid-19 cases locally.

Kenya Airways announced the addition of two more repatriation flights on 7 and 8 April, due to increased demand for travel to the UK before the advisory takes effect on April 9. “The suspension is due to the directive given by the Government of Kenya suspending all flights from the UK,” Kenya Airways management said in a statement.

The UK will not accept foreign nationals travelling from or through Kenya to the UK, including transit passengers through JKIA, Nairobi.

On April 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel for visitors coming into Kenya from the United Kingdom a day after the European country gave notice to travellers originating from Kenya.

On Friday, 2^nd April, the UK said that from April 9, visitors who have been in or transited through Kenya in the previous 10 days would be denied entryinto its territory, citing Covid-19 risks.

“There are new restrictions for entering the UK from Kenya. From 0400 UK time on 9 April, visitors who have been in or transited through Kenya in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England,” read a tweet from the UK Embassy in Kenya.

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British, Irish, and third-country nationals with residence rights arriving in England from Kenya will be required to quarantine in a government-approved facility for 10 days. However, different rules apply for arrivals into Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Kenya’s addition to the UK’s Red List  will take effect on Friday, April 9, at 4:00am UK time.