NAIROBI, Kenya
The United States Embassy in
Kenya has imposed movement restrictions on its citizens in Kisumu County
ahead of the August 9 elections.
In a statement, the embassy
said that reminded US citizens of the continued need for sustained vigilance.
It said that election-related
demonstrations and rallies regularly take place in the run-up to the election,
and are likely to continue, at times blocking key intersections and causing
traffic jams.
Also, the embassy reiterated
that demonstrations may occasionally be violent, requiring police
intervention.
Furthermore, the embassy said
that strikes and other protest activities related to economic conditions occur
regularly in the mentioned area.
The embassy has asked the
Americans in the country to keep monitoring local media for updates, avoid
crowds, avoid demonstrations, keep a low profile, be aware of their
surroundings, and be vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs, not to display signs
of wealth, such as wearing expensive jewelry or watches.
They are also asked to review
their personal security plans, have travel documents up to date and easily
accessible, and also carry proper identification, including a copy of the
bio-page of their US passport with a copy of a current Kenyan visa.
"Out of an abundance of
caution, the Embassy has imposed movement restrictions on personnel in Kisumu.
The State Department reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for sustained
vigilance," the statement adds.
The alert calls on diplomats
to monitor local media for updates, avoid crowds, avoid demonstrations, Keep a
low profile, be aware of their surroundings, be vigilant when visiting banks or
ATMs, avoid displaying signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive jewelry or
watches, review personal security plans, have travel documents up to date
and easily accessible, carry proper identification, including a copy of the
bio-page of their U.S. passport with a copy of a current Kenyan visa at all
times.
This comes a day after the US
Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman reported to the office.
Ambassador Whitman was
confirmed as the US ambassador to Kenya in a unanimous vote by the US Senate on
July 14, 2022, becoming the eighteenth US Ambassador to Kenya.
The move comes as Kenya
intensifies security across the country.
The Interior CS Fred Matiang’i
assured Kenyans that the country is safe and that the security team will be
patrolling across the country to ensure that everyone is safe. - Nation
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