Kenya and the United Kingdom have agreed to work together to address Covid-19 travel restrictions that threaten diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In a meeting on Wednesday morning, Kenya’s foreign affairs minister Rachael Omamo and her UK counterpart Dominic Raab resolved to form a Joint Emergency Committee to address the issue.
The two underlined the need to work on strengthening trade and deepening regional security.
@ForeignOfficeKE Cabinet Secretary Amb Raychelle Omamo today held positive deliberations with the UK Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab. They agreed on the establishment of a Joint Emergency Committee to address COVID-19 Emergency travel restrictions.1/2
— State Department for Foreign Affairs | Kenya (@ForeignOfficeKE) April 7, 2021
2/2 They discussed the strength of our relationship – on trade, regional security, and health – and agreed to establish a Joint Committee to work together on addressing COVID-19 travel restrictions.
— UK in Kenya 🇬🇧🇰🇪 (@UKinKenya) April 7, 2021
Read: UK To Ban Travellers From Kenya In A Bid To Control Covid-19 Spread
The UK had last week announced plans to add Kenya to England’s red list from April 9 to protect the country against new variants of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Kenya, which was listed alongside Philippines, Pakistan and Bangladesh, retaliated by banning all passenger flights from the UK effective April 9.
“This unilateral decision does not reflect a prevailing logic and scientific knowledge of the disease or the spread of the pandemic. Rather, the decision seems to be motivated by a discriminatory policy against certain countries and peoples,” Kenya said in a statement on Saturday.
Read Also: UK Passengers Entering Kenya To Quarantine for 14 Days At Own Cost
Kenya further announced that passengers transiting through or from UK to Kenya will undergo 14-day quarantine at their own expense.
“While in isolation, they will be subject to take two PCR Covid-19 tests, on day two and eight of their quarantine, at their own cost,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
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