The US State Department has issued a travel advisory ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit to Kenya on July 24, putting Kenyan security agencies on high alert.
The alert that was issued on Monday warned American citizens that they could be targeted due to huge public events like the sixth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) in Nairobi, the Standard reports.
“As with all large public events, there is the opportunity for criminal elements to target participants and other visitors. Large-scale public events such as this Summit can also be a target for terrorists,” read the advisory.
The alert is set to expire on July 30 after the summit ends. The alert warned US citizens to maintain a high level of security awareness, and join the Smart Traveler Enrollment Programme (STEP) to receive pertinent safety and security information.
Mr Obama is set to visit Kenya for the first time as President and will attend the GES, which is scheduled to run from July 24 to 26 in Nairobi.
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Canada too issued its alert earlier in the month urging its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution due to the increasing number of terrorist attacks and incidents of crime. “There is no nationwide advisory in effect for Kenya. However, you should exercise a high degree of caution due to the increasing number of terrorist attacks and incidents of crime.”
Nairobi will be in a lockdown for three days when President Obama arrives to attend the summit. President Obama is expected to attend the White House initiative, which gathers entrepreneurs and investors from around the world, and is aimed at showcasing innovative projects and spurring economic opportunity.
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