Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 KENYA Overall risk level High Reconsider travel Can be dangerous and may present unexpected security risks Travel is possible, but there is a potential for disruptions Overview Emergency Numbers Emergency 112 Emergency 999 Upcoming Events 30 August 2021 - 14 September 2021 Medium risk: Chinese officials suspend Nairobi-Changsha flights from 30 August-13 September- Update Chinese authorities announced that China Southern Airlines flight CZ6044 from Nairobi Airport (NBO/HKJK) in Kenya to Changsha Huanghua Airport (CSX/ZGHA) in China was suspended from 30 August for two weeks, due to COVID-19. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Kenya 2 Travel Advisories High risk: Banditry and cattle raids in central Kenya Reconsider travel to Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Isiolo, Laikipia, southern Marsabit, Meru, Nyeri, Saduru, Trans Nzoia, southern Turkana and West Pokot until further notice, due to ongoing bandit attacks and insecurity. Banditry has been on the rise in areas of central Kenya since 2017, particularly in the west-central counties of Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Laikipia, Saduru, (southern) Turkana and West Pokot and the central counties of Isiolo and (southern) Marsabit. The uptick in raids and clashes with local communities perpetrated primarily by armed herders is likely linked to a confluence of factors: drought conditions, overgrazing of animals, increasing rates of firearm ownership and even local political disputes. While the attacks have largely targeted members of the local community, a British national was killed in March 2017 while investigating burning buildings on a ranch in Laikipia. Security forces in the region also come under periodic attack, as was the case in the Jaldesa and Kukuto areas of Marsabit County, where at least 10 people, including two police officers, were killed by bandits in August 2019. A similar ambush on a convoy of police officers and construction workers in January 2020 in Kaamosing, Turkana County, ended in the death of two individuals. Government-led efforts to quell the violence, including a deployment of the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) in 2017, have seen little success. Banditry and other forms of armed attack are highly likely to continue across central Kenya. Generally, limit exposure near ranches as well as police and military forces deployed across the region. Avoid political rallies and other campaign events. While foreign nationals are not the primary targets of the attacks, there is a risk that bandits and other armed groups may attack and/or kidnap foreigners due to their perceived wealth. For overland travel in the area, hire an experienced local guide and consider an armed escort. Notify consular officials of planned travel in the area. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Kenya 3 Extreme risk: Border regions with Ethiopia and South Sudan Defer non-essential travel to regions bordering Ethiopia and South Sudan, particularly Marsabit and Turkana counties, until further notice because of the presence of violent armed groups. There is a significant threat to foreign travellers in the border region of Marsabit and Turkana counties near Ethiopia and South Sudan, including terror attacks, kidnapping, banditry and violent crime.There have also been incidents of deadly violence between tribes located near border regions with reprisal attacks a relatively common occurrence. This was the case on 11 July 2018 when two civilians were killed and four others were injured during a cross-border attack by ethnic Merilee militiamen from Ethiopia on Lake Turkana in Holigan, Turkana County, and again on 5 December when two government officials were killed near Nakwamoru in Turkana County in response to the death of a child at the hands of cattle rustlers. On 25 August 2019, another reprisal attack saw at least eight people killed and nine others wounded by Ethiopian militiamen in Forolle, Marsabit County. While infrequent, such clashes represent a threat to foreign travellers. Clashes between Kenyan police and Ethiopian troops – allegedly pursuing Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) rebels – left three policemen dead in November 2015 and prompted the deployment of additional army vehicles along the border; similar incidents remain possible. Additionally, security was increased along the border following a terror attack by al-Shabaab militants on the DusitD2 hotel and office complex in the Westlands district of Nairobi in January 2019. Avoid all travel after dark and only move in convoys of three vehicles or more. Provide home embassy warden networks with updated travel itineraries and consider contracting private personal security with local knowledge for extended rural travel. Extreme risk: Border regions with Somalia Travellers are advised to defer non-essential travel to regions bordering Somalia in Lamu, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties until further notice because of an ongoing Islamist insurgency. Somalia-based al-Shabaab militants are active in eastern border regions. Frequent bomb and gunfire attacks target security forces in the border areas of Dadaab, Wajir and Garissa counties; since 2014 there has also been an increase in deadly attacks by suspected al-Shabaab militants in Lamu county. Previous grenade attacks have targeted restaurants and crowded areas, however, such attacks are rarely directed against tourists. Nevertheless, areas popular with tourists and other foreign visitors Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Kenya 4 may be targeted for attack. Al-Shabaab militants have reportedly drawn up a “hit list” of local officials that have spoken out against the group; several assassinations have taken place in the northeast. There is also a high risk of kidnapping in eastern regions. Al-Shabaab fighters killed four policemen and beheaded nine in a series of attacks targeting Jima and Pandanguo villages in West Lamu over three days in early July 2017, prompting an overnight curfew from 18:30 to 06:30 local time (15:30-03:30 GMT) in Lamu, Garissa and Tana River counties from 9 July until 9 October. On 4 May 2018, at least four employees of a quarry in Shimbir Fatuma area of Mandera County were killed in another attack, with initial reports indicating that non-local workers were especially targeted. Furthermore, security was increased along the border following a terror attack carried out by al-Shabaab militants from Somalia on the DusitD2 hotel and office complex in the Westlands district of Nairobi in January 2019; additional attacks by the militants involved the abduction of two Cuban doctors in Mandera on 12 April 2019 and a raid on Hareri village near Mandera on 5 May. On 11 June 2019, citing growing insecurity in the area, local officials announced the indefinite closure of the Lamu County section of the Somalia border. On 19 February 2020, three people were killed when al-Shabaab militants attacked a bus travelling through Lafey, Mandera County. Earlier on 4-5 January 2020, one United States (US) soldier and two defence contractors were killed, while two others were wounded, during an al-Shabaab attack on Camp Simba joint base at Manda Airstrip in Manda Bay, Lamu County. In response to this attack, US Africa Command deployed an additional 50 to 100 troops to the outpost. Similar deadly attacks remain possible due to the Kenyan military’s continued involvement in neighbouring Somalia; while attacks are most likely to target security forces, civilian bystanders caught in any attack are at high risk of physical harm. Avoid travel near government, diplomatic and security forces infrastructure as well as near places of worship. Immediately report suspicious packages and behaviour to local authorities. Dusk-to-dawn curfews in areas bordering Somalia have been imposed following attacks or are based on deteriorating security conditions; further movement restrictions are possible. Comply with all orders issued by local authorities. For purposes of essential travel, notify consular authorities and contract a local security escort with local knowledge of areas to avoid. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Kenya 5 Summary Kenya is a High Risk destination: reconsider travel. High Risk locations can be dangerous and may present unexpected security risks. Travel is possible, but there is a potential for severe or widespread disruptions. Covid-19 High Risk Despite a largely successful vaccination campaign in comparison to the rest of African and strict restrictions on movement and gatherings, the country is struggling with high rates of COVID-19 transmission. Political Instability Medium Risk Threats to Kenyan political stability arise from tensions between the government and the National Super Alliance (NASA) opposition coalition and their supporters, ethnic relations, official corruption and rural communal conflicts. President Uhuru Kenyatta won the 2017 election, the results of which were disputed by rival candidate Raila Odinga, sparking demonstrations and violent unrest. Conflict High Risk In December 2020, Somalia severed diplomatic ties with Kenya and the spat has the potential to escalate into clashes along the already heavy-militarised border in the future. Ethnic violence, particularly among rival pastoral communities, is an endemic concern, and fighting frequently occurs in rural border areas and the counties of Marsabit and Isiolo. Some of these pastoral communities are heavily-armed and could be drawn into future political face-offs. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Kenya 6 Terrorism Medium Risk Militants