The UK government advised its residents to remain, vigilante, when visiting certain areas within Kenya.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) identified Nairobi, the coast and resort areas around Mombasa and Malindi, the towns of Narok, Naivasha, Nanyuki and Meru and their surrounding areas, and the northern border counties as high-risk areas.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke through an email, the UK clarified that information published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) should not be misconstrued as a formal travel advisory.
"The purpose of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice is to provide information and advice to help British nationals make their own informed decisions about foreign travel," a British High Commission spokesperson disclosed.
The spokesperson went on to distinguish that regular factual updates by the FCO were based on information from various sources as well as embassies abroad.
However, the UK government made it clear that regular factual updates were different from a travel advisory.
"These regular factual updates are different to a travel advisory. A ‘travel advisory’ refers to when the UK advises against all travel or all but essential travel to a particular place," an excerpt of their statement revealed.
The embassy reiterated that its citizens were empowered to make their independent decisions when it came to their regular update bulletins.
"UK nationals remain free to make their own decisions regarding travel based on the information available." the spokesperson asserted.
It went on to urge its citizens to be on high alert while on various tourist activities such as safaris, reiterating that such expeditions were prime targets for potential attacks.
