Kenya and UK 'working' on a Covid travel plan

By Rhoda Odhiambo

The Kenyan and British governments say they are working on a system to recognise Covid vaccine certificates issued in both countries, to facilitate travel between them.

This comes after the UK changed its controversial international travel traffic light system to make it easier for fully vaccinated passengers to travel to England.

But despite being removed from the UK's red list, Kenyans intending to travel there will still have to take a test three days before travelling, quarantine for 10 days on arrival, as well as pay for Covid tests while in isolation.

Under the UK's new rules effective from 4 October, fully vaccinated people from countries that are not on the red list will be exempt from the compulsory quarantine.

But Tuesday's joint statement by the British High Commission and Kenya’s health ministry just shows how complicated the matter still is and may not be resolved soon.

"Establishing a system to mutually recognise each other's vaccine certificates for a vaccine passport program for travel takes time particularly in an unprecedented pandemic," the statement says.

Health experts in Kenya say the recent announcement from the UK will have an impact in the uptake of Covid-19 vaccines in the country.

People from other African countries that remain in the UK red list have criticised the new travel rules saying it's discriminatory.

The World Health Organization has been against vaccine passports for international travel due to unequitable availability of Covid-19 vaccines globally.

This article originally appeared in BBC News.

Photo: Getty Images.