President Uhuru Kenyatta secured an assurance from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the UK would back down on issuing travel advisories to British citizens intent on visiting Kenya.
A statement released by the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit (PSCU) on Thursday, January 22, indicates that the two leaders reached the resolution after a discussion on the adverse effects of the advisories on the country's economy.
Uhuru highlighted the knock-off effects of the travel advisories on employment, especially in the tourism sector and their association with the radicalisation of youth.
“What happens when these travel advisories are issued is that there are job losses especially in the tourism sector presenting an opportunity for the radicalisation of our young people,” President Kenyatta stated.
PSCU reported that the British PM assured President Kenyatta that his country would not issue travel advisories to the country on the account of the negative impacts that the warnings have on the economy.
The two leaders, at the meeting in 10 Downing Street, London, also discussed issues of security where they agreed that the two countries should cooperate more in the fight against terrorism.
“We would like to partner in combating terrorists. These criminals have continued to cause harm to our people and it is about time we combined forces to fight back,” Kenyatta told Johnson.
PSCU informed that Uhuru welcomed the PM's promise of continued cooperation in military and counterterrorism and also appreciated the decision by the PM to overturn the travel advisories to the country.
His government issued a travel advisory to its citizens visiting Kenya on Sunday, January 12, warning that terrorists could try to carry out attacks in some of the places they frequented.
In the advisory, British citizens were urged to be vigilant when visiting areas frequented by foreigners including hotels, bars, restaurants, sports bars and nightclubs, sporting events, supermarkets, shopping centers, and commercial buildings, coastal areas including beaches, government buildings, airports, buses, trains, and other transport hubs.
