The US State Department issued a new travel advisory to all its citizens living in or planning to visit Kenya and marked six counties as 'no go zones.'
In the update seen by Kenyans.co.ke dated April 9, 2019, the US government highlighted several areas they believed to be highly susceptible to either acts of terror or crime.
"Exercise increased caution in Kenya due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping while some areas have increased risk," stated an excerpt of the document.
The counties were clustered into two categories namely: coastal areas and Kenya-Somali border areas.
"Due to terrorism concerns, U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling to the Kenya-Somalia border counties and some coastal areas," the US state department asserted.
Kenya-Somalia border counties where Americans were implicitly advised against visiting were; Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa.
The Coastal counties that made the 'do not travel' list were; Tana River, Lamu and parts of Kilifi County north of Malindi.
Eastleigh and Kibera neighborhoods in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi were also mentioned as high-risk areas with US citizens advised to highly reconsider visiting the areas.
"Be especially careful when traveling after dark anywhere in Kenya due to crime," stated a section of the document.
The US state department claimed that local security forces lacked sufficient resources to respond effectively and thus tasked its citizens to remain vigilant while in the country.
"Violent crime, such as armed carjacking, mugging, home invasion, and kidnapping, can occur at any time. Street crime can involve multiple armed assailants. Local police often lack the resources and training to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents,"
The US also cautioned its countrymen from using the Likoni ferry in Mombasa citing safety concerns as well as ordering them to completely avoid using the road from Kainuk to Lodwar in Turkana due to banditry.
