The US State Department has issued a fresh travel advisory on Kenya, warning its citizens of possible violence linked to October 17th repeat presidential election.
This is the second travel advisory in a span of less than a week after a similar one where US urged citizens traveling to Kenya to take precautions against the threat of Somalia-based Al-Shabaab terrorist attacks.
The fresh alert issued on Wednesday notes that rallies and demonstrations “may occur with little notice.” It adds that “even events intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.”
Although the State Department notes that there is no indication that US citizens may be targeted, it urges them to “exercise caution and remain abreast of the security situation throughout the electoral period.”
On September 8th, an alert warned US citizens in Kenya to avoid visits to six counties including Mandera, Wajir and Garissa in the northeast, along with Tana River, Lamu and parts of Kilifi on the Coast. The State Department also listed Nairobi’s Eastleigh neighbourhood as a no-go zone.
Tension remain high in Kenya even as Kenyans prepare to go to the ballot in about four weeks. There are unsettled issues including the capability of the current electoral commission to conduct a free and fair poll, after the Supreme Court nullified last month’s election.
Opposition National Super Alliance has maintained that no election will be held unless their nine point “irreducible minimums” are considered.
