Kenyan applicants seeking visas to travel to the United States (US) would now be required to provide their social media handles to facilitate further background checks.
According to a US media, the new move would see applicants provide their identities on social media such as facebook, twitter among other more vigorous screening methods.
The US State Department official contacted by AFP on the matter revealed that under the new security procedures consular officers would now demand extra information from applicants they deem to require more rigorous national security vetting.
She stated that the security procedures had gone into effect on May 25 for travelers deemed to present a risk to the United States.
"Such visa applicants will be asked to provide additional information, including their social media handles, prior passport numbers, additional information about family members, and a longer history of past travel, employment, and contact information," said the official.
The official, however, pointed out that the changes would affect only a fraction of one percent of the more than 13 million annual visa applicants worldwide who want to travel to the US.
The stringent measures follow pledges made by President Donald Trump who vowed to tighten controls on who can enter the United States.
Trump in a March 6 memorandum, stated that the regulations being advanced by his administration were meant to sift out extremists who he said posed a threat to US security.
The US President on Sunday also condemned the deadly attack in London and took to Twitter where he stated that the controversial travel ban was also as an extra level of security for Americans.
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