Kagwe to issue UK flight ban verdict in 48 hours

Mutahi Kagwe

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe speaking at Afya House on December 22, 2020.

Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • Countries across Europe and beyond have suspended travel from Britain since the weekend after the UK said it had discovered mutated variant of the novel coronavirus, which could be up to 70 per cent more transmissible.
  • Britain is one of Kenya’s main trading partners and last year accounted for the fourth largest arrivals through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with 181, 400 visitors.

Kenya will make a decision in the next 48 hours on whether to join EU member States in imposing new travel restrictions to and from the United Kingdom due to a highly infectious new coronavirus strain.

Health Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said Kenya was monitoring events in the UK before taking action on a day the European Commission advised all its 27 member States to lift their embargo on trains, planes and lorries from Britain to avoid further disruption.

Countries across Europe and beyond have suspended travel from Britain since the weekend after the UK said it had discovered mutated variant of the novel coronavirus, which could be up to 70 percent more transmissible.

Britain is one of Kenya’s main trading partners and last year accounted for the fourth largest arrivals through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with 181, 400 visitors.

“UK has imposed travel restriction and in the next 48 hours we will be making further announcements,” Mr Kagwe said yesterday.

“Travel restrictions are on the table. We are observing global trends and discussions are looking at what is going on.”

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