Kenya travellers face Ebola entry curbs from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait

Several countries have introduced travel restrictions affecting passengers from Kenya after an Ebola outbreak, ranging from entry bans to quarantine-style waiting periods and extra screening. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Madagascar and El Salvador are among the states that have announced measures targeting travellers from Kenya.

Key facts

• Saudi Arabia has suspended travel by its citizens to Kenya and halted all visa categories for people arriving from the country.
• Kuwait will not let airlines board passengers from Kenya unless at least 21 days have passed since their departure from the country.
• The Kuwait rule also covers passengers connecting through third countries, with airlines required to check travellers' movement histories.
• Israel imposed restrictions earlier in the year but reversed them after diplomatic intervention by Nairobi.
• Kenya says no new Ebola cases have been reported since 19 October.

What is changing?

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday, 30 October that the Kingdom had brought in extra precautionary measures after assessing the Ebola situation, in order to reduce the risk of the virus spreading into the country. The measures stop Saudi citizens from travelling to Kenya and suspend every visa category for people arriving from the East African nation.

Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, meanwhile, instructed airlines operating flights to Kuwait International Airport to refuse boarding to passengers travelling from Kenya unless at least 21 days had elapsed since they left the country. The directive extends to passengers travelling via third countries, and airlines must review travellers' movement histories to see whether the 21-day requirement has been met.

Who is affected?

The measures affect people arriving from Kenya as well as Saudi citizens travelling to Kenya. More than 300 Kenyans who had travelled to Saudi Arabia in search of employment were blocked from entering despite holding valid work visas and were repatriated. The group, which left Kenya on 30 October, was left stranded at Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates before flying back; their plane landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 1:30 pm on Monday, 2 November.

Madagascar and El Salvador have also announced measures affecting travellers from Kenya, and Israel had imposed restrictions earlier in the year before reversing its decision following diplomatic intervention by Nairobi.

Why is this happening, and what is Kenya doing?

Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sought a review of the restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. On 2 November, Director General for Political Affairs Ambassador Josephat Maikara, Deputy Director General for Africa Affairs Ambassador Dennis Mburu and Middle East Directorate Director Sora Katelo met representatives of the two countries in Nairobi.

Kenya argued that it had complied with World Health Organization guidelines and that no new Ebola cases had been reported since 19 October. Representatives of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait agreed to pass on Kenya's concerns to their governments and to set up technical discussions between their health authorities and Kenya's Ministry of Health.

What this means for travellers

Anyone planning to travel from Kenya, or who has been in Kenya recently, should confirm the current entry and boarding rules with the airline and the destination country before booking or flying. Under the Kuwait directive, airlines assess whether 21 days have passed since a passenger's departure from Kenya, including when the journey runs through another country.

The source does not give start dates or review deadlines for the Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti measures. It notes that the list of restrictions is being updated as further countries announce measures, so travellers should re-check the position close to departure.