President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya will be hosted this Thursday 14th October 2021 by U.S President Joseph R. Biden, Jr at the White House where the issue of travel advisory on Kenya is expected to feature.
According to a statement by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, the two leaders will discuss the strong U.S.-Kenyan bilateral relationship and the need to bring transparency and accountability to domestic and international financial systems.
President Kenyatta’s visit builds on the February 2021 Phone Call
They will also discuss efforts to defend democracy and human rights, advance peace and security, accelerate economic growth, and tackle climate change.
The meeting will build on the leaders’ phone call in February and on President Biden’s commitment to the U.S. partnership with Africa based on principles of mutual respect and equality.
This visit happens when the US Government has maintained a level three travel Kenya travel advisory, issued in August 2021, warning its citizens to reconsider travel to the East African country due to COVID-19.
US citizens have also been asked to exercise increased caution in Kenya due to crime, terrorism, health issues, and kidnapping.
The US State Department says the Kenya-Somalia border and some coastal areas are no go zones due to terrorism while Turkana County should be avoided due to crime.
The advisory said Nairobi’s neighbourhoods of Eastleigh and Kibera should be avoided at all times due to crime and kidnapping. It said the main hot spots include Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River county, Lamu county and areas of Kilifi County north of Malindi.
The US considers the road from Kainuk to Lodwar as a high-risk area due to banditry while US citizens have been told to consider carefully whether to use the Likoni ferry in Mombasa due to safety concerns.
In February this year, US President Biden spoke to Kenyatta of Kenya and affirmed the importance of the strong U.S.- Kenya bilateral relationship.
He also emphasized the United States’ continued commitment to working closely with Kenya to support regional peace and security, including at the United Nations Security Council.
President Biden applauded Kenya’s leadership in the Horn of Africa and commitment to counterterrorism, economic growth, addressing climate change, and sustainable development.
Both leaders discussed the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights crises in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and the need to prevent further loss of life and ensure humanitarian access.
They also discussed the need for cooperation on other matters of regional stability.
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